A principal assistant director of the Home Ministry's National Key Results Area (NKRA) unit pleaded not guilty in the George Town Sessions Court to possessing properties in excess of his emolument.

Abdul Rahman Harun, 52, claimed trial when the charge was read out before judge Sitarun Nisa Abdul Aziz.

Sitarun Nisa granted him a bail of RM15,000 with one surety and fixed June 13-16 for the trial.

Abdul Rahman was charged with committing the offence at Number 44, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) complex, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Penang, on Oct 11, 2010 where he was allegedly found to have in his possession cash and properties worth RM817,355.

Of the amount, a total of RM681,355 was in the form of cash and RM136,000 in properties, which were in excess of the emolument of RM152,081 he received throughout his service with the government.

He was charged under Section 36 (3) of the MACC Act 2009 which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of bribe or RM10,000 whichever is high.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais of the MACC, representing the prosecution, asked the court to fix the bail at RM20,000 with one surety, saying that throughout the investigation since August 2009, the accused and his wife were working and that he was not in any financial problem.

However, the defence, represented by Mohd Fadly Hashim, asked the court to reduce the amount to either RM6,000 or RM7,000, saying there was no possibility that the accused would not be present in court.

- Bernama