Judge Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail delivered the ruling after finding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Zulfadli, 43.

Zulfadli’s lawyer, Fazaly Ali Ghazal, told the court that the defence planned to call seven to eight witnesses over seven hearing dates: Jan 8, 13, and 14; Feb 17 and 20; and March 3 and 4 next year.

The court extended the bail until the defence proceedings commence.

The prosecution was conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim.

Zulfadli, currently suspended from his post as the senior assistant director of the international relations and coordination branch at MMEA headquarters, claimed trial to the charge on May 23, 2021.

According to the charge sheet, Zulfadli is accused of accepting a RM10,000 bribe from shipping owner Wan Fauzi Wan Kamaruddin at a restaurant in Jalan Yahya Awal, here, at 10pm, on Oct 2, 2020.

The accused allegedly used his position at the time to not take action in an investigation involving the vessel MT Singa Gangsa owned by Alamgala Resources Sdn Bhd.

The vessel was detained by KM Mulia of MMEA’s Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone on Sept 17, 2020.

Zulfaldi is charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of two years, or a fine, or both, if convicted.