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Kota Kinabalu: A forestry officer was charged with two counts of asking and accepting bribes from a logging company director. 

Abidin Jaya, 50, pleaded not guilty before Session Court Judge Jason Juga, Thursday.

On the first count, Abidin is accused of asking a RM30,000 bribe from Lau Kwong Sing who was the director of Syarikat Keunggulan Balak Sdn Bhd, as an inducement to lessen the impact of reports on a logging offence activities. 

The offence allegedly took place on Sept 14, 2019, at a hotel in Keningau.

On the second count, he allegedly accepted RM15,000 bribe from the same person and for the purpose at the same time and place.

The offence under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.

It carries a  jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe received or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The court set August 7 for pre-trial case management.

Abidin was released on bail of RM10,000 with RM2,000  deposited in one local surety.

The court also ordered him to surrender his passport, if any, and report to the MACC office once in two months.

Abidin was also prohibited from contacting the prosecution witnesses pending the disposal of the case.

MACC Prosecuting Officer Nur Sabrina Ali appeared for the prosecution while counsel Noor Ilienna Rahayu Ibrahim represented Abdin.