Mohd Nazari is led by MACC officers to the courtroom. — Bernama photo
JOHOR BAHRU: An Immigration officer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to two counts of corruption, involving bribes from a ferry operator six years ago.
Mohd Nazari Mohamed, 48, made the plea before judge Kamarudin Kamsun.
On the first count, Mohd Nazari, who was then attached at Tanjung Belungkor Immigration Office, Kota Tinggi near here, was alleged to have solicited a bribe of RM70,000 through a telephone call to a ferry operator, Panti Bistari Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd, as an inducement for him to not disrupt the company’s business and ensure smooth travel of its passengers from Batam in Indonesia, to the ferry terminal at Tanjung Belungkor.
The offence, under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) Act 2009, was allegedly committed between 12.50pm and 1pm on Jan 28, 2012.
He faces an imprisonment for up to 20 years and maximum fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
The man was also charged with accepting RM23,000 in bribes from the ferry operator
concerned for the same purpose at No 30, Jalan SS8/10, Taman Sri Saujana, Kota Tinggi, between 10.20pm and 10.30pm on Jan 31, 2012.
The charge, under Section 17(a) of the same law, provides the same punishment upon conviction.
He was allowed bail of RM20,000 in one surety and the court set Dec 3 for mention.
The prosecution was conducted by prosecuting officer from MACC, Norsyarina Raizan, while Mohd Nazari was represented by lawyer Mohd Hazwan Hamidun. — Bernama