Kuala lumpur: An assistant director with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to receiving RM15,000 in bribes last month.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fareez Akmal Md Yusuf, 38, an officer with the Kuala Lumpur Enforcement Division's Investigation Branch (Trade Fraud), is charged with allegedly accepting RM15,000 in cash from a 50-year-old man in return for helping to close an investigation he was conducting. The alleged offence took place at a car park in Petaling on June 6 under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. If found guilty, Fareez Akmal could face a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is greater.

MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin proposed bail of RM10,000, subject to additional conditions that the accused surrender his passport to the court, report to a nearby MACC office, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses. Lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork, representing Fareez Akmal, requested the court to consider bail of RM5,000, arguing that his client supports a family and elderly parents in poor health.

Judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordin ordered bail of RM5,000 with the conditions requested by the prosecution. The case is set for mention on August 3.