JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here has ordered a former Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Tanjung Sedili maritime zone assistant director to enter his defence for accepting a RM10,000 bribe back in 2020.
Sessions judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail made the decision yesterday after finding the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against Mohd Zulfadli Nayan, 43.
The accused’s lawyer, Mohd Fazaly Ali Mohd Ghazali, said they would be calling seven to eight witnesses for their defence.
The court then set the date of the defence proceedings for Jan 8, 13 and 14, Feb 17 and 20, as well as March 3 and 4 next year.
Ahmad Kamal also ordered that bail be extended to the accused until the defence proceedings.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong prosecuted the case.
On May 23, 2021, the accused, who is currently suspended from his duties as Malaysian maritime international relations and coordination branch assistant director, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on the charge sheet, Mohd Zulfadli allegedly received a cash bribe amounting to RM10,000 from the owner of a shipping company, Wan Mohd Fauzi Wan Kamaruddin, at a restaurant in Jalan Yahya Awal, here at 10pm on Oct 2, 2020.
Mohd Zulfadli was accused of using his position at that time to not take action on the investigation of a vessel owned by the company that was detained at the MMEA Tanjung Sedili maritime zone on Sept 17, 2020.
He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine, or both, if convicted.
