KUALA LUMPUR: A sales executive pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to soliciting RM3,500 as an inducement to obtain a diploma from a private university without following the proper procedures.
C. Vijayakumar, 34, entered the plea after the charge was read out to him before Judge Azman Ahmad.
The accused allegedly requested for the RM3,500 bribe for himself from Muhamad Amir Safwan Rusli, in return for his help in getting a Diploma in Business Administration under the name of Mohd Amirul Hakim Rusdi from the university, without going through the proper learning programme.
He allegedly committed the offence at a fast food restaurant in Persiaran Perdana, Bandar Sri Damansara here at 2.40pm on Jan 18, 2018.
The offence framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under section 24 of the same act provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Earlier, MACC deputy public prosecutor, Nor Ameelyna Zaini offered RM8,000 bail with one surety.
However, counsel Mohd Shahrullah Khan Nawab Zadah Khan representing Vijayakumar appealed for RM2,000 bail on the grounds his client had cooperated with the MACC.
The prosecution also informed the court that the accused was charged in the Shah Alam Court yesterday under the same section and the case had been fixed for mention on April 9.
Judge Azman then allowed the accused bail of RM3,500 with one surety and the case was transferred to the Shah Alam Court.
Yesterday, Vijayakumar and a trader Mark Aaron Pious, 34, claimed trial in the Shah Alam Sessions Court to receiving a bribe of RM3,000 for the same purpose.
On Jan 30 and 31, Vijayakumar also pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on three counts of soliciting and receiving bribes in relation to fake university degrees. — Bernama
