MMEA officer pleads not guilty to receiving RM400 bribe

BUTTERWORTH: A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) enforcement officer was charged at the Sessions Court today with accepting a bribe of RM400 from a fisherman.
Ridzwan Che Leh, 46, claimed trial to accepting the bribe from a fisherman as inducement not to take action against the latter's friend who collected mussels with colander without a valid license which is an offence under the Fisheries Act 1985.
The accused who is attached to the Penang APMM Maritime District 2 is alleged to have committed the offence at Kuala Bukit Tambun in Southern Seberang Perai between 10pm and 12am in April 2015.
He was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission Act 2009 read together with Section 24 of thesame act for which he is liable to face a jail term of up to 20 years and fined not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Penang Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission prosecution officer Amin Yaacub prosecuted while the accused was not represented.
Sessions Judge Sitarun Nisa Abdul Aziz released the accused on bail of RM1,500 in one surety and set July 21 for mention.