FOUR FORMER BANK OFFICERS CHARGED OVER LOAN DOCUMENTATION BRIBES

SHAH ALAM, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Four former bank officers have been charged with offences under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 at the Sessions Court here today.

The charges pertain to the alleged acceptance of bribes and subsequent failure to report such gratifications, purportedly received for recommending a legal firm for the preparation of loan documentation.

One of the accused, Abdul Rahman Yusof, aged 44, pleaded guilty to five alternative charges of failing to report a gratification before Judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordin.

According to the charges, he was accused of receiving a series of payments totalling RM6,658 from a legal firm into his personal bank account, as an inducement for his recommendation of the firm to prepare 11 housing loan agreements valued at approximately RM1,978,088, at a bank branch in Shah Alam between June 2020 and October 2021.

He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, and fined RM25,000, with a default sentence of 30 months' imprisonment.

Abdul Rahman also faced a charge under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a fine not exceeding RM100,000, or imprisonment not exceeding ten years, or both, upon conviction. 

In his mitigation plea, the accused, who was unrepresented, appealed to the court that he has five children to support and his financial situation is precarious due to his having been out of work for the past year.

However, MACC deputy public prosecutor, Natrah Fareha Rahmat, submitted that a proportionate sentence should be imposed to serve as a deterrent.

In separate proceedings before the same judge, Mohd Ariff Firdaus Bakri, 38, faced two counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM2,469 from a legal firm in Shah Alam between November 2020 and August 2021. 

Mohd Ariff, represented by lawyer R Palaya, also faced two alternative charges for failing to report them. All the charges were brought under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act and were related to two loans worth RM822,834.

Meanwhile, in a proceeding before Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud, two other former bank officers pleaded not guilty to similar charges.

Ahmad Fathullah Idris, 38, was charged with one count of accepting a bribe of RM1,325 and a corresponding alternative charge, connected to a single loan of RM161,377.

Sameer Izzat Malik Fesal, 37, faced four counts of accepting bribes totalling RM5,149 and four alternative charges, concerning five loans with a total value of RM1,292,556.

 Mohd Ariff Firdaus was granted bail of RM10,000, Ahmad Fathullah RM5,000, and Sameer Izzat RM13,000. They were also ordered to surrender their passports, report to the MACC monthly and refrain from contacting witnesses pending the disposal of their cases. 

MACC deputy public prosecutor M Esther Jecyntha appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Mohd Saiful Hadi and Mohd Norazihan Adnan represented Ahmad Fathullah and Sameer Izzat, respectively. 

Case mention was scheduled for Jan 13, 2026. 

-- BERNAMA