SENIOR MILITARY OFFICER CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING RM34,500 IN BRIBES OVER SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- A senior military officer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of accepting RM34,500 in bribes last July.

The 53-year-old officer, attached to the Warfare Planning and Campaign Branch of the Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation, is accused of accepting RM34,500 in bribes from two individuals as an inducement not to report smuggling activities in Kota Tinggi, Johor, which came under his official duties.

The offence was allegedly committed at a condominium in Jalan Dua, Chan Sow Lin, near here, in July 2025.

The charge, under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 carries a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Noralis Mat offered bail of RM20,000 with one surety, along with additional conditions for the accused to report to the nearest MACC office once a month and to surrender his passport to the court until the disposal of the case.

Lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, representing the accused, requested that the bail be reduced to RM6,000, citing that his client had given full cooperation and had never failed to report to the MACC throughout the investigation.

“The accused still needs to carry out his duties as usual and requires a passport to travel abroad. I further request that the media refrain from disclosing his name, given his role as a defence intelligence officer involved in sensitive operations,” said the lawyer.

Judge Azura Alwi allowed the defence’s application for the accused’s name not to be revealed and granted bail of RM12,000 with one surety, ordering him to report to the MACC office in Kuala Lumpur once a month until the case is resolved.

The case is set for mention on Dec 2.

--BERNAMA