Former Nafas employee charged with receiving a bribe of USD 300,000
A former officer of the National Farmers Organization (Nafas) pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to two charges of receiving bribes totaling USD 300,000 from a Singapore-based fertilizer supplier three years ago.
According to the charges, Nordin Ibrohim, 77, is accused of accepting a bribe of USD 300,000 from Kim Jong Kwa, the Director of Sung Chang Asia Pte. Ltd., by transferring money from the company’s bank account to the accused’s bank account as a reward for assisting the company in being appointed as a fertilizer supplier to farmers by Nafas.
Nordin is alleged to have committed the offense at a bank in Plaza Mont Kiara here between November 16 and December 21, 2022, under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 (Act 694), punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
The section provides for a maximum sentence 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.
MACC Prosecutor Abdul Muntaqim Abdul Aziz proposed bail of between RM200,000 and RM300,000 for the two charges with one surety, along with additional conditions that the accused must surrender his passport to the court until the case is concluded, report to the nearest MACC office once a month, and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses.
“This is not an ordinary offense as it involves government funds. When corruption occurs, job opportunities and investments are affected, and business procedures become more challenging,” said Abdul Muntaqim.
Defense lawyer Datuk Zamri Idrus, representing the accused, requested a lower bail on the grounds that his client, a retiree, supports his family and suffers from diabetes.
Judge Rosli Ahmad, who set the case mention for February 26, allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM100,000 for both charges with one surety and additional conditions as requested by the prosecution.