Duo charged with accepting over RM150,000 to expedite amendment of death certificate
KUALA LUMPUR: Two men, one of whom is a former Pos Malaysia employee, were charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with four counts of accepting bribe totalling over RM150,000 as inducements to expedite the process to amend the death certificate of a man, two years ago.
Abu Noor Abu Samah, 61, and Noorha Wisma Hisham Abdul Wahab, 48, both pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before Judge Madihah Harullah.
On the first count, Abu Noor was alleged to have accepted cash of RM30,000 from Oasis Food Court Manager Jamilah Mohd as an inducement to help expedite the process to amend her husband’s death certificate, and changing the name from Abu Bakar SM Ashmouni to Abu Bakar Sulaiman Ashmoni, which also had a different identity card number.
On the second charge, Abu Noor, who is a former Pos Malaysia employee, was charged with accepting a cheque of RM10,000 on the name of Tangkas Kesuma Sdn Bhd from Jamilah through Norma Che Ali, who is Abu Bakar’s second wife, also as an inducement to expedite the process to amend their husband’s death certificate.
On the third count, Abu Noor was charged with abetting the acceptance of a cheque of RM58,000 on the name of YAM TBPIS SEL from Jamilah for the same purpose.
He was alleged to have committed the offences at the Oasis Food Court Office at Level 2, Centre Court, Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra here between 12.30 pm on Feb 16, 2016 and 9.45 pm on Oct 10, 2016. Noorha Wisma Hisham, on the other hand, was charged with accepting the cheque of RM58,000 on the name of YAM TBPIS SEL, as an inducement to expedite the process to amend the information on Jamilah and Norma’s husband’s death certificate.
He allegedly committed the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad, Jalan Tun Perak, here on Feb 18, 2016. Each charge, all under the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission Act 2009, provides for imprisonment of not more than 20 years, and fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of the bribe, whichever is higher, if convicted.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Nor Diana Nor Azwa prosecuted, while Abu Noor and Noorha Wisma Hisham were represented by lawyers Datuk Hanif Hassan and Datuk Sukri Mohamed, respectively.
The court allowed Abu Noor bail of RM30,000, while Noorha Wisma Hisham, RM15,000, with one surety each and ordered their passports to be surrendered to the court and for them to report to nearest police station every month.
Aug 14 was set for remention. — Bernama