KUALA LUMPUR: A Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry officer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here yesterday to a charge of receiving a gold bracelet as a bribe in exchange for endorsing a government purchase order for exhibition equipment rental two years ago.
The accused, Nur Fazreen Mohamad Kamal, 44, entered the plea after the charge was read before Judge Suzana Hussin.
According to the charge sheet, in her capacity as the ministry’s head of the Corporate Communications Unit, she allegedly received a bribe via an online transaction amounting to RM5,268, as part of payment for a 916-grade 3C gold bracelet weighing 39.30g.
The bracelet was purchased by KB Gold 2 Enterprise from Mawarni Mansor, 43.
The alleged offence took place at a bank branch at Plaza Yeoh Tiong Lay, Jalan Bukit Bintang, on May 11, 2023.
The gratification was purportedly a reward for the accused’s confirmation of a Government Purchase Order related to the rental of exhibition equipment for Trenchless Asia 2023 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), awarded to Tulip Event Exhibition Enterprise for RM49,950.
She was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694), punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
In the same proceedings, the mother of four also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code (Act 574) for the same offence, which carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Prosecutor A. Selvam, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Comission (MACC), proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety, in addition to conditions requiring the accused to surrender her passport to the court, report to the nearest MACC office during the first week of every month, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses until the trial is concluded.
However, her lawyer, Marcus Lee, requested a lower bail sum, citing the relatively small amount involved, her responsibility for four children aged between seven and 12, and her need for regular medical check-ups due to high cholesterol and hypertension.
The court subsequently granted bail at RM7,000 with one surety, along with the additional conditions sought by the prosecution, and fixed Oct 2 for mention.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
