KUALA LUMPUR: A senior police officer, holding the rank of Assistant Superintendent, was charged with accepting a RM10,000 bribe to close an investigation into an employee of a company involved in unlicensed donation drives last year.
The accused, Eddie Lau Lay Chuong, 43, pleaded not guilty to two charges, including an alternative charge, read to him before Sessions Court Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud yesterday.
According to the charges reported by Kosmo, the accused, while serving at the Subang Jaya district police headquarters, accepted a RM10,000 cash bribe from a 57-year-old printing company owner as an inducement to close an investigation against his employee under Section 32(2) of the House to House and Street Collections Act 1947.
He is charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act.
If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Lau is also charged with an alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.
The offence was committed at a well-known coffee shop chain in Subang Jaya around 4.18pm on Nov 6 last year.
It is understood that the accused is currently serving at the Shah Alam district police headquarters.
The court then set bail at RM10,000 with one surety, in addition to requiring the accused to report to the Selangor MACC office at the beginning of each month, surrender his passport to the court, and refrain from contacting any prosecution witnesses.