Two bank officers face charges for allegedly accepting bribes to process personal loan applications that exceeded authorised credit limits in Melaka.
MELAKA: Two bank officers pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to charges of accepting bribes to process personal loan financing applications that exceeded authorised credit limits.
Syamime Hazreen Bahrin, 37, now a financial advisor at a bank in Kuala Lumpur, faced five counts of accepting bribes totalling RM50,581.51 via online transfers into her bank account.
The offences were allegedly committed at a bank on Jalan Hang Tuah here between December 8, 2022, and July 15, 2024.
Nursyafiqah Abdul Latif, 29, who works at a bank branch in Ampang Point, Selangor, was charged with two counts of corruptly receiving RM8,000 via online transfer into her bank account from a man for the same purpose.
Her alleged offences occurred at a bank in Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah, on August 7, 2023, and September 9, 2023.
Both women allegedly accepted the bribes as rewards to process loan applications for customers who had already applied for loans at other banks, causing them to exceed their borrowing limits.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Judge Elesabet Paya Wan allowed Syamime Hazreen bail of RM15,000 with one surety and Nursyafiqah bail of RM7,000 with one surety.
The judge also ordered both accused to surrender their passports to the court and report to the Putrajaya MACC office once a month.
The court set January 3 next year for mention of the case.
Deputy public prosecutor Sharina Farhana Nor Sa’ari from MACC prosecuted the case.
Syamime Hazreen was represented by lawyer Emile Ezra Hussain while Nursyafiqah was represented by lawyer M. Manoharan.
This case stemmed from ‘Operasi Sky’, an investigation into bribery and money laundering involving financial consultancy firms that was publicly reported on September 9.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had previously revealed that the operation would lead to approximately 20 bank officers being charged under the MACC Act by late September or early October. – Bernama
