JOHOR BARU: The Sessions Court here today directed former Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone director, Mohd Zulfadli Nayan, 43, to enter his defence on a charge of allegedly accepting a RM10,000 bribe four years ago.
Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused at the conclusion of their case.
Mohd Zulfadli, who is currently suspended as a senior assistant director at the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) headquarters, opted to testify under oath during the defence proceedings.
His counsel, Mohd Fazaly Ali Mohd Ghazaly, told the court that the defendant will call seven to eight witnesses during the seven-day proceedings, scheduled for Jan 8, 13, and 14; Feb 17 and 20; and Mar 3 and 4 next year.
Prosecution was led by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer Zander Lim Wai Keong.
Mohd Zulfadli, who pleaded not guilty on May 23, 2021, was accused of allegedly accepting RM10,000 from a shipping company owner, Wan Mohd Fauzi Wan Kamaruddin, at a restaurant on Jalan Yahya Awal here, at 10pm on Oct 2, 2020.
The bribe was allegedly linked to his position at the time, as he is accused of refraining from taking action in an investigation involving the vessel MT Singa Gangsa, owned by Alamgala Resources Sdn Bhd, which was detained by the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone's vessel KM Mulia on Sept 17, 2020.
He faces charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code for receiving bribes, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.