BUTTERWORTH: A federal government department director pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to abuse of power during her tenure in the Seberang Prai Utara district in 2017.
Hanita Ahmad, 57, claimed trial after the charge was read to her before judge Zulhazmi Abdullah on Thursday (Aug 28).
According to the charge, Hanita is accused of using her position to secure a bribe for her husband, Md Khashim Yahaya. She allegedly recommended his business, Tegas Enterprise, for a contract that involved providing food and beverage services for the Volunteer Patrol Scheme Programme at the Seberang Prai Utara district’s 2017 grand assembly, valued at RM3,840.
She is alleged to have committed the offence at the Seberang Prai Utara district’s Department of National Unity and National Integration on July 14, 2017.
She was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 for abuse of power, which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
If convicted, the accused could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of no less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Noor Azura Zulkiflee who proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety with additional conditions that the accused surrender her passport to the court and report to the nearest MACC office once a month.
Hanita, who is currently the director of the same department in Perlis, was unrepresented.
She appealed for a minimum bail, stating that she has dependents and must care for her ailing husband.
She said she also has to take care of her wheelchair bound mother.
Zulhazmi allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety and fixed Sept 30 for case mention.
He ordered the accused to report to the MACC office once a month and surrender her passport by Aug 29.
Hanita was detained at around 11am on Tuesday (Aug 26) at the Penang MACC office when she turned up to have her statement recorded.
