The Director-General of the Department of Environment (DOE), Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, was charged at the Sessions Court here today with allegedly receiving a RM100,000 bribe linked to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) exemption appeal last year.
The 59-year-old, who arrived in court in a black suit, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Suzana Hussin. He was alleged to have understood the proceedings but denied the offence when asked.
According to the charge, Wan Abdul Latiff is accused of accepting the bribe in connection with a proposal involving a dual-carriageway project at Bukit Kukus and earthworks for mitigation purposes on government land in Paya Terubong, Penang.
The project was reportedly tied to an application for planning approval and an appeal seeking exemption from the requirement to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment report.
He is said to have received the alleged gratification from the director of Sunrich Conquest Sdn Bhd through a project manager from the same company.
Prosecutors claim the payment was an inducement for him, in his capacity as a public official, to consider the exemption appeal related to the EIA requirement for the project.
