Marine officers claim trial to RM70,000 bribery charge

JOHOR BARU: Two Marine Department officers have claimed trial to charges of seeking a RM70,000 bribe more than three years ago.

Sanizam Bachok, 45, and Nor Yazid Khairi Mohamad Noor, 48, faced two charges each before judge Kamarudin Kamsun at the Sessions Court here.

In the first charge, Sanizam was charged with asking RM70,000 in cash from a shipping company worker as an inducement to issue a letter of operation approval for three vessels.

He allegedly committed the offence in a restaurant at Anjung Neighbourhood Centre 5 along Persiaran Ledang Heights in Iskandar Puteri at around 6pm on Nov 25, 2015.

The offence under Section 16(a) (B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act is punishable under Section 24 of the Act.

For the second charge, Sanizam was accused of receiving RM50,000 from the same individual as an inducement to issue a letter of operation approval for the three vessels at the same restaurant at around 11.10am on Nov 27, 2015.

For the offence, the accused was charged under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act and punishable under Section 24 of the Act.

For both offences, Sanizam is liable for imprisonment of not more than 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

Nor Yazid Khairi was charged with abetting Sanizam in the two alleged offences on the same dates and locations.

He was charged under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act and punishable under Section 24 of the Act.

If convicted, he can be jailed for a period of not more than 20 years and fined not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Yesterday, both men pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kamarudin then set bail at RM20,000 with one surety for each of the accused and set Feb 10 for the remention of the case.

MACC officer Nor Syarina Raizan prosecuted while the accused were not represented.

Sanizam and Nor Yazid Khairi posted bail.