According to the first and second charges, Mohammed Al Faizal Mohammed, 44, is accused of having accepted RM176,000 from a businessman, Lim Seng Chye, 41, as an inducement to help release 22 Chinese nationals, who were detained by the police and the Immigration Department.

The offence was allegedly committed at a hotel on Jalan Bukit Bintang here at 11pm on Sept 22, 2020.

The charge, under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, carries a maximum 20-year jail sentence and a fine of up to five times the quantum of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Faizal also pleaded not guilty to two optional charges of cheating Lim for the same purpose by inducing him to hand over the RM176,000, which he would not have done if he had not been deceived.

Both offences were allegedly committed at the same place, time and date.

The charge, under Section 417 of the Penal Code, is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years or fine, or both, upon conviction.

In the same court, a woman who is also Faizal’s friend, Mariam Beevi M Sultan Alaudin, also pleaded not guilty to two charges of accepting a RM33,000 bribe from Lim for the same purpose.

The offence was allegedly committed at a bank on Jalan Tun Perak at 8.17pm and 8.18pm on Nov 6, 2020.

Mariam also pleaded not guilty to two optional charges of cheating Lim for the same purpose by inducing the victim to hand over the RM33,000, which he would not have done if he had not been deceived.

Judge Suzana Hussin allowed bail of RM50,000 for Faizal and RM17,000 for Mariam, and ordered their passports to be surrendered to the court and to report to the nearest MACC office every month.

The judge fixed April 21 for mention.

The prosecution was conducted by Fadhli Ab Wahab. Faizal was represented by counsel Manjet Singh, while Mariam was represented by Parvinder Singh Doal.