They pleaded guilty to offering bribes to officer Zahaymie Zakaria to avoid action being taken against them for business licence offences and illegal employment of foreign workers.

Romzi Abidin, 53, was fined RM8,000 for offering Zahaymie RM500 on July 18, 2023, to prevent the closure of RNS Gemilang Sdn Bhd for not having a business licence.

Azhar Abu Bakar, 59, was fined RM6,000 for offering a RM200 bribe on May 29, 2023 to avoid the closure of Singia Two Sdn Bhd for employing foreign workers without permits.

Idrus Muhamad, 38, was also fined RM6,000 for offering a bribe of RM200 to Zahaymie on Feb 9, 2023 to prevent action being taken against Dhakan Traders Sdn Bhd for a similar offence.

The trio entered their pleas after the charges were read before judge Suzana Hussin.

In a separate sessions court, judge Rozina Ayob fined 52-year-old Chinese national Teng Hui RM10,000 after he pleaded guilty to offering Zahaymie RM500 on Jan 16, 2023.

He had offered the bribe to Zahaymie to prevent the closure of Restoran Kar Long Sdn Bhd for employing foreign workers without valid permits.

Jamaluddin Asim, 58, received a RM8,000 fine for bribing Zahaymie with RM500 on Oct 18, 2022 to avoid action being taken against his fruit and vegetable shop on Jalan Khoo Theik Ee for employing foreign workers without permits.

The last accused, K Punithan, 43, was fined RM8,000 for a similar offence committed on June 15, 2023.

He pleaded guilty to offering RM500 to Zahaymie to avoid action being taken against his premises, Kris Biz Solutions, for not having a valid business licence.

All offences were committed under Section 214 of the Penal Code, which provides for three months’ imprisonment, a fine or both.