Customs dept employee claims trial to corruption charges

KANGAR: A customs enforcement assistant pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today on two counts of corruption involving RM3,000.
The accused, Khairul Paizi Ahmad, 49, was charged with sending a SMS to Mohd Anizal Abdul Tasli, 46, a boat owner, asking for a RM3,000 bribe as an inducement not to report the latter to the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM), at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Perlis office in Wisma Persekutuan here, on June 13, 2016, at 12.06pm.
According to the charge, the report to LKIM could result in diesel fuel subsidies for fishing boats to be discontinued, while the fishing boat licence and equipment belonging to Mohd Anizal would be returned to LKIM.
Khairul Paizi was also charged with accepting RM3,000 from Mohd Anizal as an inducement for the same purpose, at Bukit Kubu Recreational Park, Kuala Perlis, near here at 1.55pm on the same day.
He was charged under Section 16 (a) (A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, that carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, in the same court, Khairul Paizi's colleague, Hizir Said, 43, was accused of abetting him in committing the offence at the same place, time and date.
Hizir was charged under Section 28 (1) (C) of the MACC Act 2009, read together with Section 16 (a) (b) and Section 24 of the same act that carries a maximum imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe, if convicted.
MACC deputy public prosecutor A. Hafiizh Abu Bakar handled the case, while both accused were not represented.
Judge Rusita Md Lazim allowed Khairul Paizi a RM10,000 bail in one surety, while Hizir, was allowed a RM7,000 bail in one surety, and fixed Nov 22 for mention. — Bernama