Policeman pleads not guilty to corruption charges

KUALA LUMPUR: A police corporal pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to two counts of accepting bribes, involving RM3,400, and another charge with soliciting a bribe of RM30,000.

Abu Bakar Gembor, 45, who was then with the Brickfields District Police Commercial Crime Investigation Department, made the plea before judge Azura Alwi.

On the first count, he was charged with soliciting bribe of RM30,000 from one Loo Kwi Faa, 44, as an inducement for him to release Loo and another person, Choong Yew Min, 29, who were detained for alleged involvement in a syndicate producing forged travel documents.

On the second charge, Abu Bakar was alleged to have accepted RM3,000 from Loo and Chong for the same purpose, and the third count, was for allegedly accepting RM400 from the two men for returning a Toyota Vios car key belonging to Loo.

Abu Bakar, who has four children, was charged with committing all the offences at Restoran Chon Sai Kei at Jalan Kuchai Maju 13, Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, near here, between Aug 18 and 29, 2017.

The first charge was framed under Section 16(a)( B) of the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) Act 2009, while the second and third, under Section 17(a) of the same law.

Both the sections provide an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Abu Bakar, represented by lawyer Mohd Shahrullah Khan Nawab Zadah Khan, was released on bail of RM10,000 in one surety for all charges and was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court, as well as report himself at the MACC office every month pending disposal of the case.

The court fixed Dec 17 for mention. — Bernama