MELAKA: A 36-year-old police sergeant claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two charges of receiving a RM2,000 bribe from a woman three years ago.
Muhammad Hazwan Ahad pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Judge Elesabet Paya Wan on Wed (Jan 17).
Based on the statement of facts, the accused allegedly accepted RM2,000 as a bribe as an inducement not to take action against Julhashfizan Abdullah under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
At the time of the offence, he was working at the Narcotics Department of the Melaka district police headquarters
The offence was allegedly committed at Jalan RI 1 Taman Rambai Idaman in the Melaka Tengah district at 3pm on March 9, 2021.
The charge was framed according to Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If found guilty, the Act provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The accused also faces an alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code for allegedly obtaining valuable things without consideration from a person concerned with his official function at the same place and time.
If found guilty, the accused could face a jail term for up to two years or fine, or both.
The accused was granted a bail of RM5,000 and one surety with the additional condition that his passport be handed over to the court and that he report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) office here, once a month.
The prosecution was handled by MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohd Ali while the accused was represented by counsel Mohd Hazrin Alif.
The court fixed Feb 21 for the re-mention of the case.
