SHAH ALAM: Three policemen today found themselves on the wrong side of the law when they were charged with multiple counts of corruption over a favour for the release of foreign workers from police custody last year.
Assistant Superintendent N.Ramesh, 52, Inspector Mohamad Syafiq Solah, 29, and Lance Corporal Muizzuddin Muhammad, 32, who allegedly committed the offences in their capacity as government agents, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Sessions Court judge Rozilah Salleh.
Ramesh, a senior investigating officer, was charged with attempting to solicit RM9,000 from C.R Kumar as an inducement to release three foreign workers hired by Pariamanam or S.P Manan from police custody.
On a second count, he was charged with accepting RM1,500 from Pariamanam for the same purpose.
He also faced an alternative count of accepting RM1,500 from the same person without anything in return, knowing that the act was in connection with his official duties.
Ramesh was also jointly charged with Syafiq on two counts of receiving a total of RM7,000 from C.R Kumar for a similar purpose.
They also face a similar alternative charge involving RM3,000 from C.R Kumar.
Meanwhile, Syafiq was also charged with accepting RM3,000 from C.R Kumar as an inducement to release the three foreign nationals from detention, and he also faces a similar alternative charge involving the same amount.
He was also jointly facing a charge with Muizzuddin of accepting RM2,000 from the same person for the same purpose.
The duo also jointly face a similar alternative count involving the same amount.
All the accused allegedly committed the offences at the Crime Investigation Department at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters between May 28 and June 4, 2019.
Their main charges framed under Section 17(a) and Section 16 (a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corrupton Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the transacted amount, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the alternative charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, they face a maximum two years' imprisonment or fine or both, if convicted.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Suffian Ja’afar offered RM5,000 bail for each charge if the court wanted to grant bail.
In pleading for minimum bail, counsel Asmadi Hussin who represented Ramesh said his client who has been serving in the police force for 25 years had no risk of absconding.
“He is married with four children and three of them are studying at the university,” he said.
Counsel Ridha Abdah Subhi who represented the other two accused said his clients who were released on MACC bail last year had never disregarded the bail conditions imposed on them.
“They have no risk of absconding… they have families to support,” he added.
The judge then allowed RM3,000 bail for each (main) charge and ordered all the accused to surrender their passports to the court until disposal of the case.
The case will be mentioned on March 6.
Counsel Azrul Zulkifli Stork also represented Ramesh while MACC prosecuting officer Mohd Fadzley Abdul Jalil appeared with Mohamad Suffian.