3 women charged with 106 graft counts over driving test bribe scheme
JOHOR BARU: Two former clerks and a driving licence candidate agent were charged at the Sessions Court here today with a total of 106 counts of accepting and abetting bribes related to the approval of computerised driving tests.
Nuratika Natasha Mohd Salleh, 25, and Nurieta Ahmad Pale, 36, pleaded not guilty to a combined 53 charges of accepting bribes between August and October last year, while their former employer, agency owner Siti Norafidah Othman, 45, denied the 53 charges of abetting the offences.
According to the charge sheet, Nuratika allegedly received RM48,741 through 29 online transactions from a 26-year-old woman as payment to ensure passing results for candidates in the first part of the computerised driving licence test. These transactions were reportedly conducted at a bank in Jalan Niaga 1, Kota Tinggi.
Meanwhile, Nurieta was charged with receiving RM21,172 through 24 online transfers from Nuratika as a reward for providing similar favours. Her transactions took place at a bank in Bandar Penawar, also in Kota Tinggi.
Siti Norafidah, who managed the agency supplying driving test candidates, was accused of abetting both former clerks in receiving the bribes totalling RM69,913. The payments were allegedly made via accounts at banks in Bandar Penawar and Felda Air Tawar.
All charges fall under Section 16(a)(A) and Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act. Convictions carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Fazal Lisam Abidin prosecuted, while Nuratika and Nurieta were represented by lawyers Syufri A. Samad and Naufal Amran, and Siti Norafidah was represented by Abdul Rahim Ali.
Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail granted bail of RM7,000 each to Nuratika and Nurieta, and RM10,000 to Siti Norafidah, with conditions including monthly reporting to the Johor MACC office and surrendering their passports.
The court has set June 26 for document submission and further mention.
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