Two ex-bank staff deny accepting bribes for recommending legal firm to prepare home loan documents worth millions.
SHAH ALAM: Two former bank officers pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting bribes for recommending a legal firm to prepare home financing loan documents.
Nadiah Zakaria, 33, and Abdul Rahman Shahrudin, 35, made their pleas separately before Sessions Court Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.
Nadiah faces 12 charges involving six counts of accepting bribes and six alternative charges of failing to report gratification.
The former mortgage sales consultant allegedly received RM11,444 from a law firm’s bank account for recommending the firm to prepare 11 home financing loan agreements worth RM3.2 million.
All offences were allegedly committed at a bank branch in Shah Alam on various dates between February 2021 and December 2022.
The alternative charges accuse her of failing to report the gratification to the MACC or police.
Abdul Rahman faces 14 charges comprising seven counts of accepting bribes totalling RM7,366 and seven alternative charges for failing to report receiving money as gratification.
The former mortgage sales consultant allegedly received the money for recommending the same legal firm to prepare 10 home financing loan agreements worth RM2.61 million.
Prosecutors said the money from the same legal firm was deposited into a bank account belonging to his wife.
Abdul Rahman was charged with committing the offences at a Shah Alam bank branch on various dates between February 2018 and October 2019.
Both face charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act, which carries up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
The alternative charges under Section 25(2) of the MACC Act provide for a maximum fine of RM100,000 or up to 10 years imprisonment or both.
The court granted Nadiah bail of RM6,000 and Abdul Rahman bail of RM5,000.
Both were ordered to report to the nearest MACC office, surrender their passports to the court and not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Nadiah, who is in her late stage of pregnancy, was exempted from reporting to the MACC until after giving birth.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Izzati Sapifiee conducted the prosecution while Nadiah was represented by lawyer Muhamad Aizat Adli Zalil.
Abdul Rahman was unrepresented in court.
The court set January 7 next year for mention of Abdul Rahman’s case and April 27 for Nadiah’s case mention. – Bernama
