Businessman charged over RM615,000 bribe to ‘settle’ Bukit Aman case

The accused faces a maximum 20-year jail term and five times the gratification sought if convicted.

BUTTERWORTH: A businessman today pleaded not guilty to a RM615,000 bribery charge to “settle” a Bukit Aman case involving another person last year.

Chan Eng Leong, 46, was charged with soliciting US$150,000 and accepting bribes in its ringgit equivalent from Goh Choon Kim between March 30 and 31, 2019, at about 5pm, at the Vangohh Eminent Hotel’s office at Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam.

Chan was also charged with accepting RM615,000 from Goh at the Global Tobacco Manufacturers Sdn Bhd office at Machang Bubok on April 1, 2019.

The sum was allegedly paid to “settle” an investigation by Bukit Aman into Goh Kim Heong under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

Chan was charged with two counts of bribery under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, one for soliciting the bribe and another for accepting it.

The charge carries a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine of up to five times the gratification sought, upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Selvaranjini Selvaraja requested bail to be set at RM300,000 and an order from the court for the accused to not contact the witnesses in the case.

Chan’s lawyer RSN Rayer requested for lower bail. He said his client had never contacted anyone since February when the MACC arrested him and he had already paid a bail amounting to RM30,000.

Sessions Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid offered RM250,000 bail with two sureties, and ordered Chan to surrender his passport.

Azhari set Oct 23 for mention and also ordered Chan to report at the MACC office once a month. Chan later posted bail. - FMT