Isa Abdul Karim, 53, who also serves as an imam at a mosque in Kangar, entered the plea before judge Nu’aman Mahmud Zuhudi after the charges were read to him.

The first three charges accused him of accepting a total of RM11,000 via a Maybank account for foreign marriage registrations processed at the Perlis Islamic religious affairs department, in violation of the Islamic Family Law Enactment 2006.

The offences allegedly took place at the Maybank branch in Pekan Kuala Perlis on Dec 5, 8, and 28, 2022.

In the fourth to seventh charges, he is accused of receiving a total of RM15,200 through the same Maybank account as payment for similar acts, at the same Maybank branch on Jan 1, March 7, June 19, and Oct 24, 2023.

Isa was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The court granted bail of RM10,000 with one surety and imposed conditions, including the surrender of his passport and monthly reporting to the Perlis MACC office. Case management is set for Feb 28.

Perlis MACC prosecuting officer S Sujatha appeared for the prosecution while the accused was represented by lawyers Ariff Azami Hussein and Zuhair Ahmad Zakuan.