The Director General of Tourism Malaysia (TM) Mirza Mohammad Taiyab was today charged with corruption at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Mirza, who claims he was ‘set-up' by his enemies, pleaded not guilty and was released on a bail of RM5,000.

"It is all fabricated and I think it is unfair," he told Malaysiakini in a phone interview.

"I mean, think about it, somebody alleged something and they arrested me immediately based on mere allegations. I hope that person has evidence if he or she is making such accusations."

mirza mohammad taiyab beg mirza hadi hassan beg Vowing to "fight this to the very end", Mirza, 50, said he had gone to the Anti-Corruption Agency in Putrajaya this morning to give a statement. He was arrested by the ACA and taken straight to the court in Jalan Duta.

The ACA has been investigating the tourism promotion agency after receiving a series of complaints alleging corruption.

Charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, Mirza faces a sentence of up to two years in jail, a fine or both.

According to the charge sheet, Mirza is alleged to have accepted dental treatment worth RM13,860 paid for by Zulhisyam Ayob, director of advertising firm Perunding Pakar Media Sdn Bhd between Jan 17, 2005 and July 26, 2005.

During that time, Mirza was deputy director-general I of TM, while his elder brother Mirza Mohd Tariq was the managing partner of Perunding Pakar Media. The offence was allegedly committed at the Clinic Practice Prosthodontics in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.

Judge Fathiyah Idris has fixed Feb 16 to 18 next year to hear the case.

An active ACA

The ACA has been busy in the recent month in going after top level government officials for corrupt practice.

Including Mirza, the anti-graft body has made three arrests on high ranking government officials as well as a handful of others in less than two months.

ACA last month arrested Immigration Department director-general Wahid Md Don and 19 other officers from the same department for alleged graft involving the issuance of visas for foreign workers.

Among those arrested were also deputy director-general Yusof Abu Bakar and a close relative of his.