Policeman claims trial

SEREMBAN: A policeman was charged at the Sessions Court here yesterday with three counts of soliciting and accepting RM1,500 in bribes five years ago.

Sergeant Major Abdul Qayum Vekapady Abdullah, 59, pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Junaidah Mohd Isa.

Abdul Qayum, who was Tanah Merah police station head at the time, was charged with committing the offences in his capacity as a government agent.

On the first count, the accused was charged with soliciting a RM500 bribe from M. Manialagan as an inducement for not taking legal action and providing protection to the latter’s lorries passing by the area under the Tanah Merah police station administration.

For the second charge, Abdul Qayum was accused of soliciting a mobile phone from the same person for a similar purpose.

He allegedly committed the offences at Lot 7271 Pekan Tanah Merah Utara, Kampung Baru Site C Port Dickson on March 3, 2014 between 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

On the third count, the accused was charged with accepting RM1,000 from Manialagan to buy an iPhone 5 mobile phone as an inducement for a similar purpose.

He allegedly committed the offence at Restoran Old Town White Coffee in Port Dickson on March 6, 2014 at 3.40pm.