A Royal Malaysian Customs Department assistant director pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court on Monday to a charge of accepting RM15,000 in bribes last month.
Fareez Akmal Md Yusuf, 38, who serves with the Investigation Branch (Trade Fraud) under the Kuala Lumpur Enforcement Division, is accused of accepting RM15,000 in cash from a 50-year-old man in exchange for helping to close an investigation he was handling.
The offence was allegedly committed at a car park in Petaling on June 6.
He was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, Fareez Akmal faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as a fine of not less than five times the value of the alleged bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
During proceedings, MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin proposed bail of RM10,000 and requested additional conditions, including that the accused surrender his passport, report regularly to the nearest MACC office, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses.
Defence counsel Azrul Zulkifli Stork appealed for lower bail of RM5,000, telling the court that his client supports his family and elderly parents, who are in poor health.
Judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordin granted bail of RM5,000 with the additional conditions requested by the prosecution and fixed Aug 3 for case mention.
