Former Immigration Department director-general Wahid Md Don pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today to receiving a RM60,000 bribe from a businessman to speed up the approval of visas for 4,337 Bangladeshi workers.

wahid mohd don immigration Wahid, 56, is alleged to have received the money from Low Chang Hian at his house at No 3167, Jalan Lembah Ledang, off Jalan Duta, on July 10.

If convicted, he faces not less than 14 days and not more than 20 years in jail and can be fined up to five times the bribe involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

According to Bernama , Judge SM Komathy Suppiah allowed bail at RM50,000 with one surety and fixed five days starting May 18 next year for trial.

Yesterday, Wahid was asked to present himself at the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) headquarters today. He was brought to the Court Complex in Jalan Duta at about 9.30am escorted by ACA officers and his family members.

Transferred pending trial

Deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais asked the court to set bail at RM100,000 with one surety and impound his international passport.

He also told the court that the prosecution was calling 25 witnesses.

Defence counsel V Sithambaram urged the court to release Wahid on a personal bond as his client was a law-abiding high-ranking government officer and would not abscond.

Sithambaram said Wahid had cooperated fully with the ACA in its investigation and moreover, would lose everything if he absconded.

Wahid, who has been the immigration director-general since Oct 1, 2006 has been transferred to the Public Service Department pending the disposal of the case.