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 12.20pm and 12.40pm last January 6 in a Toyota Fortuner car with the 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 the offence at 7.35pm 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 for accepting RM35,000 from Anurul Hiraq between 4.00pm and 4.30pm on November 18 last year in the same car beside 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 when the mineral was transferred by a company named Aras Kuasa Sdn Bhd.

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

In mitigation, lawyer Muhammad Hisham Abdul Rahim, who represented Fadly, said his client earned RM2,600 a month and had to support three children, along with his parents.

Syed Umar Khalil, represented by lawyer 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 February 5 for mention.

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

– BERNAMA