Cop claims trial to bribery charges

Saharulzaman Alizaman, 38, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Judge Abu Bakar Manat.

He was charged with two counts of soliciting RM20,000 and RM4,000 in bribes from a man as an inducement not to take action against him for carrying out a money lending business without a licence.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Lahad Datu district police headquarters' Commercial Crime Investigation Division Office, between 1.15 pm and 4 pm on Aug 16, 2017.

Saharulzaman was also accused of receiving bribes amounting RM17,000 from the same man, between 3.09 pm and 4 pm on the same date at Double Bay in the Lahad Datu town.

The charges, framed under Section 16(a)(B) and Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.

The court set bail at RM20,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport, not to harass witnesses and report to the Sandakan MACC office every month.

The case has been set for mention on Sept 9.

The prosecution was conducted by MACC deputy public prosecutor Nurul Izzati Sapifee while the accused was represented by counsel Mohamed Zairi Zainal Abidin.