A GOVERNMENT department deputy director was charged in the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court today with 46 counts of corruption and abuse of power involving RM55,020, allegedly committed between 2019 and last year.

Mahriyatty Bahrin, 42, who is also a grade J44 civil engineer at the Sabah Contractor Service Centre, claimed trial to all the charges before judge Abu Bakar Manat.

All charges were framed under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

According to the charge sheet, Mahriyatty faced 19 counts under section 17(a), four under section 16(a)(B), and one each under sections 18 and 23.

Mahriyatty faces imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Apart from that, she was also charged with 21 counts under section 165 of the penal code, which carry a maximum two years’ jail, a fine, or both.

She was accused of corruptly obtaining a bribe as an inducement to approve the Bumiputera Status Certificate for several contractors in the state.

All the offences were allegedly committed  at Maybank Sipitang Branch at Lots 25 amd 26 Sipitang Shopping Centre, Jalan Hj A. H. Tengah, 89850 Sipitang and Maybank Karamunsing Branch, Maybank Building, 1, Lorong Kemajuan, Karamunsing, in the Kota Kinabalu district from 2019 to 2021.

The court then set bail at RM25,000 with a local surety, along with a condition of reporting to the Kota Kinabalu MACC office once in two months.

Prosecuting officer Nurul Izzati Sapifee prosecuted while the accused was represented by lawyer Zahir Hussien Ahmad Shah.

The court fixed July 21 for mention. – Bernama, June 20, 2022.