Kota Kinabalu: A 26-year-old Immigration officer who was among those arrested in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s major operation Ops Selat, was charged with bribery and violation of the MACC provisions.
Cassandraella Jalius pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat, to the two main charges and two alternative charges against her, on Tuesday.
On the first main charge, Cassandraella is accused of receiving cash of RM1,000 from one Mohd Shah Ezywan Abdul Rahman via cash deposit machine, in which Cassandraella knew that Mohd Shah was related with her official duty.
The alleged crime took place at the Cimb Bank Berhad in Ranau Branch on Dec 7, 2019.
On the second main charge, Cassandraella allegedly received cash of RM2,200 from Mohd Shah via cash deposit machine in which she knew that Mohd Shah was related with her official duty.
The offence allegedly took place at CIMB Bank Berhad in Ranau Branch on Dec 30, 2019.
Meanwhile, on the first alternative charge, Cassandraella who served as an immigration officer Grade KP19 at the Immigration Control Division at the departure hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2), is accused of violating the MACC provisions to promote the integrity and responsibility of public sector administration as well as failing to report bribery offences to the MACC.
The charge stated that Cassandraella had been given a RM1,000 bribe which was banked-in into her CIMB account by Mohd Shah who acted as a middleman to release illegal immigrants from China from any action under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
On the second alternative charge, she is accused of violating the MACC provisions to promote the integrity and responsibility of public sector administration as well as failing to report bribery offences to the MACC.
The charge stated that Cassandraella was given a RM2,200 bribe that was banked-in into her CIMB account by Mohd Shah who acted as a middleman to release illegal immigrants from China from having action taken against them under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
For the main charges, Cassandraella was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to two years, or with fine, or both, on conviction.
For the alternative charges, it fall under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009 and punishable under Section 25(2) of the same Act which carries a fine of up to RM100,000 or a jail term of up to 10 years, or both, on conviction.
The court set May 10 this year for mention and released Cassandraella on bail of RM10,000 in a local surety and ordered to report to the MACC office in Putrajaya once in two months.
The court also ordered Cassandraella’s international passport to be impounded by the court until the disposal of her case and also warned not to tamper with the prosecution witnesses.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nartiah F.M Sambatan proposed bail of RM15,000 in two local sureties with several conditions to be imposed on the grounds that the case involved a major operation by the MACC last year.
However, counsel Farazwin Haxdy asked for a lower bail by saying that her client is still working with the Immigration Department in Beranang, Selangor and earn about RM2,000 per month.
Farzwin also informed the court that Cassandraella, is also taking care of her elderly mother and youngest sibling who is still schooling.
Last year, the MACC, with the cooperation of the Immigration Department, carried out a nationwide blitz codenamed “Ops Selat” against members of the syndicate where more than 30 immigration officers were arrested.
Some of the immigration officers had been charged in the peninsula.
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