MELAKA – A police station chief pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting and receiving monthly bribes of RM21,800 at the Ayer Keroh sessions court today.
Abdul Halim Alias, 59, claimed trial after all five charges were read out by the court before judge Elesabet Paya Wan and was granted RM5,000 bail.
On the first count, he was charged with demanding RM8,000 from an entertainment centre owner who allegedly violated compliance with the recovery movement control order.
He was also accused of demanding RM1,000 monthly from the same owner and in return promising no action would be taken against the entertainment centre.
The accused was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 for both charges, and if convicted can face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the total value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The offences were allegedly committed by the accused at the Stage Music Lounge Plt Restaurant, Kota Syahbandar Melaka on August 2, 2020.
He also faces another three charges under Section 17 (a) of the same act for agreeing to and obtaining bribes from the same individual between August 4 and 11 at two locations: the entertainment centre and the police station.
Aside from posting bail, the accused must surrender his passport to the court and report to the Melaka MACC office every month.
Prosecution was conducted by MACC deputy public prosecutor while Halim was represented by lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork.
The court had set April 20 for case remention. – The Vibes, March 17. 2022
