A judge faces up to 20 years in jail after becoming the first senior member of Islamic law system to be charged with corruption.

Hassan Basri Markum, a Syariah Court judge in Perak, yesterday pleaded not guilty in a civil court to five charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM5,200, the Star newspaper reported.

Hassan, 53, was accused by the Anti-Corruption Agency of accepting the bribes between August and September this year.

The charges involve various Syariah-related cases including helping two couples marry without complying with Islamic law requirements.

He faces 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Dual court system

Malaysia practices a dual court system - civil and criminal codes are based on secular laws, while Muslims are also bound by Islamic laws in areas such as marriage and inheritance.

Muslims represent 60 percent of the 27 million population of Malaysia.

It is rare in Malaysia for senior officials to face corruption and abuse of power charges.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was elected in a landslide in 2004 after an anti-graft campaign, but opposition and anti-corruption watchdogs say progress since has been slow.