KUALA LUMPUR – A Perlis Fisheries Department clerical staff was charged at the sessions court here today with failing to explain why he has an excessive amount of money, totalling RM368,162.98, in his bank account.
However, Mohd Zainal Murad@Jusoh, 50, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Rozina Ayob.
The accused, an assistant at the department’s resource management division, was alleged to have failed to provide a satisfactory explanation on why the big sum of money was in his bank account, with regard to his past and present emoluments.
He was charged with committing the offence at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya on January 30, 2020.
The charge, framed under Section 36 (3) of the MACC Act 2009, provides for imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the value of the excess, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor from MACC, Maziah Mohaide, offered bail at RM10,000 with one surety, however, the unrepresented Zainal requested for a lower bail, saying that he had been suspended from work since February and was fined RM10,000 by a court in Kangar, Perlis, on November 26, also due to an offence under the MACC Act.
The man, who lives in Kangar, was accompanied by his wife in court today.
Rozina set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and ordered the man not to leave the country pending disposal of the case. She set January 7 for mention for submission of documents and for Zainal to appoint a counsel. – Bernama, December 8, 2020
