A Penang Social Welfare Department development officer was charged in the Sessions Court in George Town today, with five counts of receiving bribes worth RM12,500, by recommending the purchase of goods and services from 2011 to 2012.

Norashikin Idris, 35, of Alimsah Valley Apartment, Lebuh Chulia in George Town, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Judge Khairul Anuar Abdul Halim.

The Grade 41 community development officer was alleged to have used her position to obtain bribes by recommending goods and services supplied by Din Sahabat Setia Enterprise, a company owned by her son, Md Hisyamuddin Idris.

The five charges were alleged to have taken place between Dec 5, 2011 and Dec 4, last year at Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar).

Norashikin was charged under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

Upon conviction, she faces up to 20 years in jail or not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Deputy public prosecutor Janariah Abdul Mutalib appeared for the MACC while Norashikin’s counsel was RSN Rayer.

Earlier, Janariah proposed that the court impose a RM15,000 bail for all charges, but Rayer requested the court reduce the bail as the accused only earned not more than RM3,000 a month.

The counsel said the accused was also suspended from work last year and had cooperated with MACC in its investigations into the case.

Khairul Anuar allowed bail of RM10,000 in one surety and set Sept 27 for mention of the case.

- Bernama