A 32-year-old immigration department officer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Ipoh in northwestern Malaysia on Wednesday to two counts of soliciting and accepting 3,000 ringgit (US$717) in bribes in 2016.
The court heard that Megat Khairul Anuar Sulaiman, an officer with the Perak Immigration Department, allegedly solicited 3,000 ringgit from Muhammad Zahir Zahiri at about 1:55 pm on March 30, 2016, to “resolve” a case involving the arrest of two Indonesian workers, the China Press reported.
The second charge involved accepting a sum for the same purpose at the department’s Enforcement Division at about 5:10 pm on the same day.
The accused, who was charged under Section 16(a)(B) and Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission Act 2009, was unrepresented and informed the judge of personal financial difficulties, including looking after his elderly mother and a younger sibling who is still studying.
Judge S Indra Nehru agreed to set bail at 10,000 ringgit on both charges and fixed November 30 for mention so he could appoint a lawyer.