An immigration officer with the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Bahru pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to receiving a RM2,000 bribe last month.

Mohammad Hafez Mhd Azmi, 25, of Taman Kempas, is alleged to have received the bribe from Mohd Fauzi Maslan as an inducement to renew the social visit passes of five Bangladeshis without the presence of the passport holders.

The offence was allegedly committed in a car in front of a surau in Kampung Tambatan, Jalan Mohd Amin, at about 3.30pm on Nov 20.

If convicted, he faces a jail term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less that five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Prosecuting officer Taufik Khamis of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission appeared for the prosecution while Mohammad Hafez was unrepresented.

Judge Aliman Musri allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety and fixed July 22 and 23 for trial.

Two other officials also charged

Meanwhile, two Putrajaya immigration officers pleaded not guilty in two magistrate's court to agreeing to accept bribes from a company director three years ago.

Assistant superintendent of the Putrajaya immigration department Norhayati Omar, 38, is alleged to have agreed to accept three return air tickets to Singapore and a Sony HTS home theatre set from Quest Argotech (M) Sdn Bhd director Anil Kumar Chigurupathi without consideration, knowing that it was related to her duties in approving the work passes of foreign workers.

She is alleged to have committed the offence at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on May 6, 2006.

Magistrate Nor Azah Kasran allowed bail of RM 4,500 with one surety and fixed Feb 2 next year for mention.

Meanwhile, in another magistrate's court, Salmiza Man, 35, was charged with agreeing to accept a deposit for a car in the form of a cheque for RM18,071 from Anil Kumar, through S Ramadess, 53, which was related to her duties as an immigration officer.

She allegedly committed the offence at the Quest Argotech (M) Sdn Bhd office at Menara KLH in Jalan Kasipillay, Jalan Ipoh, here on May 10, 2006.

Magistrate Mohd Azali Ibrahim allowed bail of RM3,000 with one surety and fixed Feb 2 for mention.

Both women were charged under section 165 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum two years jail or a fine, or both, on conviction.

Company manager charged for accepting bribes

Meanwhile, in the Sessions Court, a company manager pleaded not guilty to eight counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM20,950 as inducements to obtain approval of special passes for 16 Chinese nationals from the deputy director-general I (control division) of Immigration last year.

Hui Kok Mun, 26, is charged with accepting the bribes from Wong Yun Fui at the Starbucks Coffee and Subway Cafe at the Pearl International Hotel in Jalan Klang lama, here, and in a car in front of the Old Town Kopitiam, Cheras, between March 13 and May 9 last year.

All the charges were under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the bribe involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nafathul Mohd Pozi appeared for the prosecution.

Judge Rosbiahanin Arifin allowed bail of RM15,000 with one surety and fixed Jan 29 next year for mention to enable Hui to engage counsel. She also ordered him to surrender his passport to the court.

- Bernama