An assistant manager from The Star’s editorial department was charged at the Sessions Court for receiving RM20,000 in bribes last week.
The employee pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in court today (5th June). He was allegedly bribed by former Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah last Tuesday (30th May), reported the New Straits Times.
The bribe was reportedly given to get the accused to ‘help’ the CEO, who was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Source: The Malay Mail
Now, the employee is being charged under Section 16a(B) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years or a fine of RM10,000.
The deputy prosecutor working on this case has asked for no bail for the employee since he committed a non-bailable offence.
“However, if the court wants to offer bail, it should not be less than RM50,000 with one surety,” said the deputy prosecutor.
Source: New Straits Times
The employee’s lawyer however pleaded for a lower bail as he is the only source of income for his family. So, the court set bail at RM30,000 and ordered him to surrender his passport.
News of this case came just two weeks after The Star came under fire for their controversial front page published on the first day of Ramadan.
Source: The Malaysian Insight
Despite issuing an apology the following day, the English daily’s editor-in-chief and executive editor were suspended. The police will also be investigating The Star for sedition.
Sigh, when will the corruption end?
Also read: Penangite Cop Proves Not All Cops are Corrupt, Rewarded for Refusing RM1,000 Bribe
