KUALA LUMPUR: M. Youganesparan, an assistant manager in the editorial department of English-language daily The Star, was charged at the Sessions Court here today with receiving RM 20,000 in bribes last week.
The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Judge Madihah Harullah here today.
He allegedly received RM20,000 from a person at The Intermark Hotel, Jalan Tun Razak about 9.15pm on May 30.
The money was allegedly an inducement for the accused to 'assist' the person, who had been investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He was charged under Section 16a(B) of the MACC Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 of the same Act which carries a jail term of not exceeding 20 years or a fine of RM10,000 or give times the bribe amount, whichever is higher.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Syakimah Ibrahim asked for no bail to be offered to the accused as the offence is a non-bailable one.
“However, if the court wants to offer bail, it should not be less than RM50,000 with one surety,” she said.
Youganesparan’s lawyer G. Shankar pleaded for a lower bail as his client is the sole breadwinner to his family.
The court set bail at RM30,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport.