They are enforcement assistant Azman Halidan, 55, assistant environmental health officer Khairil Rizal Mahtar, 45, and two public health assistants, Arfizi Mustafa, 38, and Azmi Hashim, 41.

Azman was charged with two counts of soliciting and receiving bribes of RM400 and RM300, respectively, from two traders as an inducement to not take action against them for operating their business without a valid licence at Pasar Pagi Lukut.

He was charged with committing the offence at the MPPD enforcement division’s office and at Kampung Sri Parit in Lukut between October 2017 and early August 2020.

Khairil was charged with soliciting RM1,000 from a car wash shop owner as an inducement for him to help obtain the MPPD’s support to obtain a business license.

Azmi was charged with committing a similar offence by soliciting RM1,800 from a guava trader at Pasar Malam Lukut on Feb 15, 2020, while Arfizi was charged with two counts of soliciting and receiving RM500 from the same trader as an inducement not to take action for operating his business without a licence at a bank in Port Dickson between March 10 and Sept 5, 2020.

The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, which provides for imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

Judge Rushan Lutfi allowed Azmi and Khairil bail of RM8,000 each, while bail for Azman and Arfizi was set at RM10,000 each. They were also ordered to report themselves to the Port Dickson MACC office once a month pending the disposal of the cases.

The court set March 29 and 31 for mention of the cases and submission of documents.

Deputy public prosecutor Azriff Firdaus Ali prosecuted.