A POLICE sergeant pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court today to two counts of accepting bribes three years ago. 

On the first charge, the accused, Mohd Hazwan Ahad, 36, was alleged to have received a bribe of RM2,000 from Hasnah Ahmad Shah as an inducement to not take legal action against Julhashfizan Abdullah, who is Hasnah’s son, under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. 

The accused, who was on duty at the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of the Central Malacca district police headquarters, was alleged to have committed the offence on March 9, 2021 at 3pm at a house in Taman Rambai Idaman, Central Malacca. 

The charge was framed under Section 17(a) and Section 24 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. 

Hazwan is also facing an alternative charge of receiving RM2,000 in cash, which the accused knew was related to his official work.  

He was accused of having committed the offences at the same location and date. He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, and if found guilty, could be punished with a maximum imprisonment of two years or a fine, or both. 

MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohamad Ali proposed bail of RM10,000 under the conditions that the accused must report to the Malacca MACC office once a month and surrender his passport to the court. 

Lawyer Mohd Hazrin Alif Wahab, representing the accused, appealed for minimum bail. 

Judge Elesabet Paya Wan then set bail of RM5,000 in one surety for both charges and allowed the conditions. 

The court set February 21 for mention and submission of documents. – Bernama, January 17, 2024.