Kota Kinabalu: Two police lance corporals were ordered to enter their defence on the charges of accepting bribes and abetment.
Sessions Court Judge Jason made the order for Roslee Abd Rashid, 47, and Hisyamuddin Sedan, 32, after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them on Thursday.
The court set Jan 15-16 next year for their defence.
On the first count, Roslee was charged with getting RM500 bribe from one Norman as an inducement not to take action against him for transporting nine illegal immigrants on Feb 11, 2019, between 4pm and 8.30pm at Ladang Bongawan in Papar.
On the second and third counts, he was accused of receiving a total of RM3,000 from one Shim as an inducement not to take action against Norman for transporting the undocumented immigrants on Feb 11, 2019, and Feb 27, 2019, respectively.
The charges, under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, provides an imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or not less than five times the amount of bribes, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Hisyamuddin who has two charges is accused of abetting Roslee in committing the crime by accepting a total of RM3,000 from Shim on the first count on Feb 11, 2019 and Feb 27, 2019, respectively.
On the second count, Hisyamuddin was jointly charged with Roslee in accepting another RM4,500 from Norman for the same purpose on Feb 11, 2019, between 4pm and 8.30pm at Ladang Bongawan, Papar.
The prosecution had called 10 witnesses during the hearing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Izzati Safiee from the MACC prosecuted while counsel Watti Jinius defended the duo.
