Faqih Mustapha, 36, is accused of soliciting and accepting RM600,903 from the law firms to facilitate housing loan referrals through an executive under his supervision.

He faces 29 charges of soliciting RM305,465 and another 29 charges of receiving RM295,438 in bribes.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Maybank Melaka main branch on Jalan Hang Tuah, a restaurant in Plaza Mahkota, and the Malaysia Building Society Berhad (MBSB) branch in Taman Melaka Raya between June 2017 and Sept 2022.

Faqih 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 at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

MACC prosecutor Noor Julieana Yahaya requested bail at RM210,000, along with additional conditions requiring the accused to surrender his passport and report to the MACC headquarters here once a month until the conclusion of the trial.

However, Faqih’s lawyers Andrew Lourdes and Chua Yong Yi appealed for bail at around RM60,000 after stating that their client had been unemployed for 14 months and was supporting his wife, who is also unemployed, and their three children.

Judge Elesabet Paya Wan fixed bail at RM87,000 with one surety and approved the additional conditions requested. She then set April 11 for case mention.