Police inspector charged with taking bribes to free 3 in drug case
Khairul Faiz Zaini being escorted by MACC officers at the Kuala Terengganu court complex. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : A police inspector pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Terengganu sessions court today to accepting RM23,000 in bribes in exchange for the release of three suspects linked to a drug investigation.
Khairul Faiz Zaini, 37, entered his plea after the two corruption charges were read to him before judge Azhar Othman, Harian Metro reported.
He was charged with accepting bribes of RM15,000 and RM8,000 from an individual through a transfer to a third-party account. The funds were later said to have been moved to his wife's bank account.
The bribes were allegedly in exchange for the release of three suspects who had been arrested, and to omit the word 'shabu' from the official police report concerning the operation that led to their arrests.
He is accused of committing the offences at the Terengganu police contingent headquarters on Feb 26, 2021.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a maximum 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of at least RM10,000, upon conviction.
Khairul was allowed to post bail of RM7,000 on both charges. He was ordered to surrender his passport and report to the MACC office every month.
The court fixed June 18 for mention of the case and the appointment of legal representation. MACC deputy public prosecutor Rabiatul Addawiah Noorlee prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.
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