Council dept head charged with using position for gratification
SHAH ALAM: A department head of a local government authority pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to using his post to obtain gratification for his sister.
Datuk Nizam Sahari, 54, who heads the Development Planning Department of the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) made the plea before judge Rozilah Salleh.
He was charged with using the post to obtain gratification for Zaiton Sahari, 50, by allegedly approving an application by Messrs. Permata Cerah Sdn Bhd, which belongs to the woman, to plan the construction of a two to three storey business building block, containing four units of office shops in Kajang.
He was alleged to have tabled the application for permission to plan the construction of the building at a MPKj meeting No. 5/2016 and issued the Form C (1) which is the Planning Permission to the company.
The offence was allegedly committed at Cempaka Putih Meeting Room 1, 7th Floor, MPKj on March 14, 2016.
The charge, framed under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Rozilah allowed him bail of RM20,000 with one surety and also ordered him to surrender his passport to the court, as well as report himself at the nearest MACC office every month.
Deputy public prosecutor from MACC Fadhli Ab Wahab prosecuted, while Nizam was represented by lawyer Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer Wan Normazlan.
The court set Feb 25 for mention.