ALOR STAR: A police inspector claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today to a charge of accepting a RM3,000 bribe as an inducement not to take action against a suspected female drug trafficker last September.
Basree Ibrahim, 38, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to him before Judge Rohatul Akmar Abdullah.
He was accused of accepting RM3,000 from a woman who was caught violating Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, as an inducement not take action against her.
Basre was alleged to have committed the offence at Seri Langkasuka Restaurant here about 8.30pm on September 17, 2022 in his capacity as a police officer attached to the Kota Setar district police's Narcotics Investigation Division.
The charge was framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
The charge carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine five times the amount bribe or a fine of RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Kedah Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Mohd Zulfadli Azharudin prosecuted while the accused was not represented.
The prosecution urged the court to set bail at RM10,000 and ordered him to report to the nearest MACC office every month during the trial process.
The court, however, decided to impose a higher bail at RM15,000 with one surety and ordered the accused not to make any contact with witnesses and fixed July 27 for mention date.
It was understood that Basree has subsequently posted the bail.