RapidPenang COO on graft charge
> Three others, including cop, face corruption rap
PETALING JAYA: It was a busy day for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday as four people were charged with graft-related offences in Penang and nine were remanded in Kuantan.
In GEORGE TOWN, Prasarana Berhad RapidPenang COO Major (Rtd) Mohd Shukri Abdul Rahman, 54, was charged in the sessions court with accepting a RM70,000 bribe at a bank in Penang Times Square on April 20, 2015. Mohd Shukri claimed trial to accepting the amount from Syarikat Jayonik MSC Sdn Bhd which was deposited into an account of Noor Jasmin Mustafa, as an inducement to assist in issuing an appointment letter to the company for several projects valued about RM8.4 million.
The offence, under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, read with Section 24 of the same Act, is punishable with a maximum 20year jail sentence and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the bribe amount, whichever is higher.
Judge Norsalha Hamzah set bail at RM50,000 in one surety and fixed Aug 16 for mention.
In another case, a policeman, with the rank of sergeant, claimed trial at the same court to two counts of soliciting and accepting a bribe from a drug pusher.
V. Ambualergan was alleged to have solicited RM2,000 and receiving RM1,000 from Khor Ah Pin so as not to take action against Khor after syabu was seized from him.
The offence was committed at the northeast district police headquarters on May 30, 2016 at about 4pm, and at a coffee shop in Jalan Perak on June 2, 2016 at about 5pm. Ambualergan was charged under Section 16(a) and Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Norshalha fixed Sept 20 for mention after allowing RM8,000 bail in one surety.
In another case, Penang Island City Council officer Abdul Halim Mat Kasa claimed trial to two counts of cheating by asking Ch’ng Chey Lee for RM200 and RM300 on two separate occasions to avoid action by the council.
Abdul Halim who was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, was accused of committing the offence in front of a post office in Air Itam on Sept 29, 2015 at 4pm and at a car showroom in Jalan Sungai Pinang on Oct 22, 2015 at 5.15pm. Norsalha allowed bail of RM6,000 in one surety.
In a separate case, northeast district lower syariah court officer Mohamad Sharriff claimed trial to cheating Mohamad Alif Jimin by inducing him to transfer RM1,500 to resolve a “khalwat” (close proximity) case.
He was accused of committing the offence at the Syariah Court Complex in Jalan Batu Gantung at about 10am on Dec 8, 2015 under Section 420 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum 10-year jail sentence, whipping and a fine. Norsalha set bail at RM5,000 in one surety and fixed Sept 20 for mention.
In KUANTAN, nine Pahang Land and Mines Office enforcement officers were remanded for seven days starting from yesterday to facilitate investigations into illegal bauxite mining activities here.
Magistrate Tengku Eliana Tuan Kamaruzaman issued the remand order applied by DPP Mohammad Fadhly Mohd Zamri from the MACC, Bernama reports.
The suspects, aged between 29 and 59, are being investigated under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act 2009, for allegedly receiving bribes as an inducement to protect illegal mining activities.
The section, punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 or five times the bribe amount, whichever is higher. The suspects arrived at the court complex clad in lockup attire, at about 10.30am. They were among 10 detained in an operation by the MACC due to the ongoing mining activities despite the moratorium imposed until Dec 31.
Also detained was a senior Customs officer, aged 56, who has been remanded until Aug 8.