Bauxite mining: PTG officers charged with corruption

Two officers of the Pahang Land and Mines Department (PTG) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a separate charge with accepting RM30,000 in gratification from an unlicenced bauxite miner.

Assistant Land Officer Fadly Ab Malek, 35, and Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) Syed Umar Khalil Syed Khalid, 34, made the plea before judge Habibah Mohamed Yusof.

Fadly was charged with accepting the money from one Anurul Hiraq Abu Bakar, 33, between 12.20 pm and 12.40 pm last Jan 6 in a Toyota Fortuner car with registration number WNK3968 in the compound of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport.

As for Syed Umar Khalil, who is Pahang PTG assistant director of enforcement, he was charged with abetting in committing the offence at 7.35 pm on the same day and at the same place.

The gratification was as an inducement for the officers to provide protection to Anurul Hiraq for allegedly conducting illegal bauxite mining at Bukit Goh here.

Fadly, who holds the post of Assistant Enforcement Officer, also faced another charge with accepting RM35,000 from Anurul Hiraq between 4 pm and 4.30 pm on Nov 18 last year in the same car besides Restoran Santai, Jalan Teluk Baharu 5, Kampung Baru Peramu here.

The money was also as an inducement for him to provide protection for Anurul Hiraq for transfer of the mineral by a company named Aras Kuasa Sdn Bhd.

Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Syafinas Shabudin, who prosecuted, requested bail to be set at RM20,000.

In mitigation, lawyer Muhammad Hisham Abdul Rahim, representing Fadly, said his client earned RM2,600 and month and had two support three children and parents.

Syed Umar Khalil, represented by lawyer Datuk Syed Azimal Amir Syed Abu Bakar, said he had a family to support.

Following which, Habibah set bail at RM10,000 for each of the accused and fixed Feb 5 for mention.

Fadly and Syed Umar Khalil, both from Pekan, Pahang, posted the bail.