A SITTING judge, deputy public prosecutor and lawyer today claimed trial at the Shah Alam Sessions Court to one count of corruption each, involving RM17,500.

Kuala Kubu Baru Sessions Court judge Azmil Muntapha Abas, DPP Khairul Azhwa Yusrie Mohamad and lawyer Noor Amirul Nazreen Anas were charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.

All three pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to them before judge Rozilah Salleh.

According to the charge sheet, the trio agreed to accept RM17,500 from one Wong Chiew Hong in return for Azmil imposing only a fine on seven illegal immigrants on July 17.

The accused face a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

DPP Allan Suman Pillai proposed bail at RM100,000 with one surety for each suspect.

Rozilah fixed the amount at RM12,000 with one surety, and ordered the accused to surrender their passports to the court.

She set case mention for December 16.

The Malaysian Insight in July reported that nine people, including a judge, DPP and lawyer, were arrested by MACC for allegedly taking bribes in return for the release of illegals held in Kuala Kubu Baru.

The judge was allegedly part of a racket that freed arrested illegals in exchange for cash.

Five policemen, who were the investigating officers in the case, and a court police officer were the other six detained.

The Malaysian Insight broke the story with a report that MACC had found RM17,500 on the lawyer, who is said to have facilitated the release of seven illegals.

Separately, Azmil was slapped with an additional charge of accepting a RM5,000 bribe on May 10 last year. He pleaded not guilty.

He allegedly received the money via an online transfer at a bank in Klang as a reward for imposing only fines on six people detained for illegal gambling.

Azmil was charged under Subsection 17(a) of the MACC Act, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which provides for imprisonment of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

He also faces an alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code for accepting valuables without consideration, or for a consideration. For this, he faces a jail term of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Rozilah set bail at RM6,000 and fixed December 16 for mention.

Azmil was the coroner in the inquest into the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock in 2009.

He had returned an open verdict, ruling that Teoh’s death was neither a suicide nor a homicide.

The ruling was later overturned by the Court of Appeal. – November 6, 2019.