AN Assistant Environmental Health Officer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Johor Bharu today to a charge of accepting a bribe of RM3,000 from a restaurant manager in exchange for not taking legal action over alleged hygiene breaches.
Mohd Azrul Nazwan A Rani, 42, entered his plea before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.
He is accused of receiving the bribe between 8 pm and 9 pm on 25 July last year at a restaurant located in Merlin Tower, Jalan Meldrum.
According to the charge, the money was allegedly offered as an inducement not to pursue legal proceedings under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
The charge was framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The court allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety. Mohd Azrul was also ordered to report monthly to the Johor Bahru MACC office and to surrender his passport to the court.
The case is scheduled for mention on 5 August.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Asmah Zainal Arifin represented the MACC, while the accused was represented by defence counsel Ahmad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali. - June 26, 2025
