Putrajaya Corp officer denies graft charges (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior officer from Putrajaya Corporation claimed trial at the sessions court here today for soliciting and accepting a RM17,000 bribe for a tender award.
Mohamad Rohaizat Kasman, 46, former chief assistant director of the corporate services department, pleaded not guilty to four charges.
On the first charge, he was accused of soliciting a RM17,000 bribe from Noor Alfidah Mohamed Zakri to approve a tender from Putrajaya Corporation to three companies – Syarikat Teras Reka, Syarikat Shogi Bena Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Fidah Supply and Services.
He was accused of soliciting the bribe at a restaurant in Putrajaya on Dec 16, 2015 about 4pm.
On the second charge, he was accused of obtaining RM2,000 as partial payment.
On the third charge, he was accused of obtaining RM2,000 as another instalment.
For the fourth charge, he was accused of accepting RM1,000 cash and a cheque for RM12,000 from Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Rahim.
He was accused of accepting the money on Dec 17, 2015, April 5, 2016 and May 16, 2016 at the restaurant.
All four charges were read under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, and are punishable under Section 24(1).
On conviction, the accused may be jailed up to 20 years and fined up to five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Judge Allaudeen Ismail imposed bail of RM20,000 and ordered Mohamad Rohaizat's passport to be surrendered to the court.
The court set April 30 for mention and for 16 days of trial starting Nov 7.
In Kuala Terengganu, two state Forestry Department officers were remanded for four days from today to help investigations into a corruption case involving RM20,000, Bernama reported.
Senior Assistant Registrar Noradila Ab Latif issued the order on the suspects aged 58 and 59.
The investigating officer and assistant investigating officer at the department's enforcement unit were detained on Sunday and are being investigated under Section 17(a).
They are suspected of soliciting and accepting a bribe from a timber mill owner as an inducement to help release his two children who were involved in illegal processing of timber.