BUTTERWORTH – A police officer with the rank of assistant superintendent claimed trial at the sessions court here today to charges of soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM35,000, three years ago.
Accused Ameyrudin Ahmad Zuki, 40, pleaded not guilty after two charge sheets were read before judge Ahmad Azhari Abd Hamid.
According to the first charge, he who was then working in the Criminal Investigation Department of the Seberang Prai Tengah district police station, was alleged to have accepted a bribe of RM20,000 from a man as an inducement not to take action under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
The offence was allegedly committed in a room at the Seberang Prai Tengah district police station on August 5, 2018, at about noon.
For the second charge, Ameyrudin was charged with accepting a bribe of RM15,000 from the same individual, for the same purpose, in a Perodua Axia around Seberang Prai Tengah, on August 7, 2018, at 4.30 pm.
The first offence was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
The second offence was charged under Section 16(a)(b) of the MACC Act 2009 which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Azhari allowed the accused bail of RM7,000 with one surety, with the condition that the accused reports to the MACC Alor Star office every month.
The accused was represented by lawyer Syahrullah Khan, and the case was handled by MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azlan Basri.
It is understood that the complainant lodged a report at MACC offices in Alor Star, and an investigation was conducted by the agency.
Earlier, the accused appeared in court with more than 10 men who were also dressed similarly to avoid being recognized by members of the media.
They also rode in two similar Toyota Alphards. – The Vibes, August 4, 2021
