4 days ago
Two policemen, ex-cop claim trial to graft charges
ALOR STAR: Two policemen and a former cop claimed trial to corruption charges at the Sessions Court here today.
Lance Corporal Ahmad Rabani Rusnizal, 29, and Lance Corporal Mohamad Shukre Mohamed Rowi, 37, together with former police corporal Wan Mohd Nor Imran Wan Seman, 35, entered the plea before judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.
According to the charge, the three of them, acting with common intent, allegedly agreed to accept a bribe of RM20,000 in cash from Azizi Norhafizi Abu Bakar as an inducement not to take action against him for being in possession of methamphetamine (syabu).
At the time of the alleged offence, all three were serving in the Crime Prevention Branch at Merbok police station.
The offence is alleged to have taken place at the Semeling police post, Kuala Muda, at 11.30pm on July 23, 2023.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Ahmad Rabani, Mohamad Shukre and another policeman, Corporal Azmil Rizal Azhar, 34, also pleaded not guilty to two other charges.
For the first of these charges, the three accused allegedly agreed, with common intent, to accept a bribe of RM10,000 from Azizi Norhafizi as an inducement not to take action against him for possessing methamphetamine.
They also claimed trial to a separate charge for allegedly receiving RM5,000 bribe from the same individual under similar circumstances.
The two offences were allegedly committed at the Semeling police post and at a 7-Eleven outlet in Taman Lembah Bujang Indah, Merbok, on Oct 25 and 26, 2023, respectively.
All charges were framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
If found guilty, they face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor, Mohd Zulfadli Azharudin prosecuted all cases, while all the accused were represented by counsel Siti Salwa Ja'afar.
Zulfadli proposed that the court set RM10,000 bail for each of the accused, but Siti Salwa pleaded for half of the amount.
The court subsequently set bail at RM8,000, with Ahmad Rabani and Mohamad Shukre each required to pay RM16,000.
July 20 has been fixed as mention date.
