Police sergeant claims trial to bribery charges
A police sergeant pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here yesterday to two counts of accepting bribes three years ago.
On the first charge, Mohd Hazwan Ahad, 36, is alleged to have received a bribe of RM2,000 from Hasnah Ahmad Shah as an inducement to not take legal action against Julhashfizan Abdullah, who is Hasnah’s son, under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The accused, who was on duty at the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division of the Melaka Tengah district police headquarters, was alleged to have committed the offence on March 9, 2021 at 3pm, at a house in Taman Rambai Idaman, Melaka Tengah.
The charge was framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Muhamad Hazwan is also facing an alternative charge of receiving RM2,000 in cash, which the accused knew that it had to do with his official work, at the same location and date.
The charge was framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum imprisonment of two years or a fine, or both.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohamad Ali proposed bail of RM10,000, with additional conditions that the accused must report to the Melaka MACC office once a month and surrender his passport to the court.
Lawyer Mohd Hazrin Alif Wahab representing the accused appealed for a minimum bail.
Judge Elesabet Paya Wan set bail of RM5,000 in one surety for both charges, and allowed the additional conditions.
The court set Feb 21 for mention and submission of documents.