A hotel manager pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court in Malacca today to impersonating a civil servant from the Home Ministry last month.

Mohd Shamsul Azreen Atan, 30, was charged with impersonating an officer of the special intelligence unit of the ministry, which in reality did not exist, at the Hitz Club Entertainment Centre, Jalan Melaka Raya 8, Taman Melaka Raya at about 3am on Aug 30 this year.

He was alleged to have flashed an authority card of a special intelligence unit, purportedly issued by the Home Ministry, at a Historical Malacca City Council officer to avoid a friend from being checked during a raid at the entertainment centre.

The charge, under Section 170 of the Penal Code, carries a jail term of up to two years or fine or both, if found guilty.

Magistrate Mohd Firdaus Saleh allowed the accused bail of RM4,000 with one surety and set Oct 15 for mention and case management.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashraf Abd Hamid, while Mohd Shamsul Azreen was represented by lawyer Faiezad Razali.

- Bernama