Policeman claims trial to soliciting bribes

KUALA LUMPUR: A policeman claimed trial to three counts of soliciting and obtaining bribes of more than RM30,000.

Kpl Abu Bakar Gembor, 45, from the Brickfields’ Commercial Crimes Investigation Unit, was charged with soliciting RM30,000 as inducement to release Loo Kwi Faa, 44, and Choong Yew Min, 29.

Loo and Choong had earlier been arrested for alleged involvement in a syndicate issuing fake passports, permits and visas to foreigners.

Kpl Abu Bakar was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 for soliciting the money from Loo.

He was also charged under Section 17(a) of the Act for gaining RM3,000 from Loo and for obtaining RM400 bribe from Loo as a fee to return the keys to Loo’s car.

The offences were allegedly committed at Restoran Chon Sai Kei in Jalan Kuchai Maju 13 here on Aug 18 and 29 last year.

Kpl Abu Bakar claimed trial when the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi yesterday.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Abdul Rashid Sulaiman offered bail at RM25,000 in one surety.

He also proposed the accused surrender his passport and to report to the MACC office once a month.

In asking for a lower bail, Kpl Abu Bakar’s counsel Mohd Shahrullah Khan Nawab Zadah Khan said his client was not a flight risk as he had cooperated when the case was under investigation.

Azura later set RM10,000 bail in one surety pending mention on Dec 17.

She also instructed Kpl Abu Bakar to surrender his passport and report at the MACC office once a month until the case is disposed.