An e-waste company agent denies offering a RM50,000 bribe to a DOE officer to avoid legal action for environmental violations.
SEREMBAN: An agent for an electronic waste disposal company pleaded not guilty to offering a RM50,000 bribe to a Department of Environment officer.
Soon Kei Chong, 40, entered his plea at the Sessions Court here before Judge N. Kanageswari.
He is accused of offering the cash inducement to a senior environmental control officer to avoid legal action.
The alleged bribe was linked to suspected breaches of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
These breaches included operating without a licence and improperly storing scheduled waste.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Nilai Industrial Area on February 12 last year.
The charge falls under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a substantial fine.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin proposed bail of RM20,000 with two conditions.
He requested the accused report monthly to the MACC and surrender his passport.
Defence counsel Azrul Zulkifli Stork agreed to the bail amount and conditions.
He informed the court his client does not possess an international passport.
The court set bail at RM20,000 with the monthly reporting condition.
The case has been fixed for mention on March 6 for document submission.
