KOTA KINABALU: A forestry officer claimed trial to two counts of bribery from a director of a logging company.
Abidin Jaya, 50, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga.
On the first charge, the accused allegedly requested a RM30,000 payment from the company director to lessen the impact of the offence committed regarding illegal logging.
On the second count, the accused allegedly accepted RM15,000 from the director through a man for the same purpose.
Both offences took place on Sept 14, 2019, at a hotel in Keningau.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
If found guilty, Abidin can be jailed up to 20 years and fined an amount not less than five times the amount of the bribe received or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The court fixed Aug 7 for pre-trial case management.
Abidin was released on bail of RM10,000 with RM2,000 to be deposited in court with one local surety.
The court also ordered him to surrender his passport and report to the MACC office once every two months.
The accused is prohibited from contacting the prosecution witnesses pending the disposal of the case.
MACC prosecuting officer Nur Sabrina Ali prosecuted, while Noor Ilienna Rahayu Ibrahim represented the accused.