A MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer and a businessman were charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with two counts of soliciting and receiving bribes totalling RM640,000 as inducement to ensure ex-prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s son was not remanded by the graft-busting body.

Mohd Rasyidi Mohd Said, 43, and Mohd Hussein Mohd Nasir, 54, better known as “Datuk Roy”, pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Azura Alwi.

They were jointly charged with corruptly asking for bribes amounting to RM400,000 from Siti Dalena Berhan, 47, as an inducement not to remand Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin during an MACC investigation.

The offence was allegedly committed at a restaurant in Bangsar between 9pm and 11pm on March 5.

The duo is also accused of accepting a bribe of RM240,000 from Syed Farid Syed Al Attas, 41, as an inducement not to remand Fakhri during the MACC investigation.

That offence was allegedly committed at a fast food outlet in Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, between 2pm and 4pm on March 6.

They were charged under section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, punishable under section 24 of the same act, which carries up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Before judge Suzana Hussin, Hussein pleaded not guilty to another charge of soliciting a RM2 million bribe from Siti Dalena and Syed Farid.

The bribe allegedly sought was an inducement to change corruption charges faced by Bersatu man Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad to a lighter one, change his statement to one given as a witness, and lower his bail amount.

The offence was allegedly committed at a property in Kampung Melayu Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, in February, and was filed under section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

Bail for Hussein was set at RM15,000 with one surety for all three charges, while bail for Rasyidi was set at RM10,000 with one surety, with the additional condition that their passports be impounded.

The court fixed July 7 for mention.

Earlier, the court allowed a bid by MACC prosecuting officer T. Armugom for Hussein’s case to be tried jointly with the other bribery charges he faces. – Bernama, May 25, 2023.