Crime & Courts

Bangladeshi held over counter-setting at Penang Airport, claims trial to graft charge

BUTTERWORTH: A Bangladeshi man, nabbed recently on suspicion of arranging the illegal entry of foreigners through a special counter at the Penang International Airport (PIA), was charged at the Sessions Court here today with graft.

Alif Khan, 35, claimed trial to the charge which was read to him by the court interpreter before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.

Alif is alleged to have received a RM2,000 bribe from Indonesian Endang Ristawati as an inducement to help remove her name from the Immigration blacklist outside a hotel at Jalan Penang between 9.20pm and 9.45pm on Oct 17.

He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same act.

The offence carries up to 20 years jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Afiqa Liyana Rozman appeared for the prosecution while the accused was represented by Lim Sheng Zhe.

Afiqa informed the court that no bail was offered, as the accused was a non-citizen.

"He is also under probe for possible involvement in a syndicate involving foreigners.

"There is a possibility that he may flee to his home country or another country," she said.

Afiqa said the accused also had no permanent address, having rented a place in Bayan Lepas, and no family members here.

She said he might also influence the witnesses in his case.

"However, if the court decides to grant bail, we urged the court to fix a high amount with two sureties.

"He is also to surrender his passport to the court and report himself to the MACC office once a month until the end of his case," he said.

Lim said that although the offence was non-bailable, he hoped the court would grant his client a reasonable bail.

He said his client, who works as a contractor, was of no flight risk.

He also possessed a valid work permit and passport.

"More importantly, he has cooperated throughout the investigation," he added.

No bail was granted and Zulhazmi fixed Nov 20 for mention.

It was reported that the MACC recently arrested a Bangladeshi man and two enforcement agency officers on suspicion of arranging the illegal entry of foreigners through a special counter at the Penang International Airport.

Sources said the enforcement officers were believed to have colluded with the Bangladeshi man, who acted as an agent, to facilitate the entry of an Indonesian national without undergoing the required checks.

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