JOHOR BARU: A teacher was charged at the Sessions Court here today over four counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM33,870 in November 2022 and January, last year.
The accused, Abdul Aziz Hussin, 54, pleaded not guilty before judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail after the charges were read to him.
Based on the charge sheet, Aziz, a teacher at a school in Batu Pahat, was alleged to have received bribes from two individuals, including a company owner, totalling RM33,870. He failed to report the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The offences were allegedly committed at a bank in Jalan Niaga, near Kota Tinggi, on Nov 9, 2022 and Jan 17, 2023.
The charges under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694) are punishable under Section 25(2) of the same act, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM100,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.
MACC prosecuting officer Alice Voon Mei Ling appeared for the case, while lawyer Mohd Razak Sharif represented the accused.
The prosecution suggested bail of RM30,000 for all charges. However, Razak requested that the proposed bail be reduced, as the accused has eight children, six of whom were studying at university, secondary and primary schools. He said the accused was also taking care of his elderly parents.
The court then set bail at RM20,000 for all the charges. The accused was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court and to report to the Batu Pahat MACC office once a month.
The case has been scheduled for mention on Sept 8 for document submission.