Kuala lumpur: A former board member of an electronic waste disposal company has pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to a charge of abetting an individual in bribing a Department of Environment (DOE) officer. The plea was entered by Jiang Fanjun, a 43-year-old Chinese national, after the charge was read to him by an interpreter before Judge Mohamad Kamil Nizam.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jiang is accused of abetting Soon Kein Chong, aged 40, in offering a RM50,000 bribe to the DOE officer. The alleged bribery was intended to dissuade legal action against Soon for violations under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, including operating without a license, failing to obtain necessary permissions and approvals, and improperly placing scheduled waste.

The incident reportedly took place at Jalan Zamrud, Nilai Industrial Estate, around 1 pm on February 12 of the previous year. The charge is framed under Section 28(1)(c) in conjunction with Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. This section of the act carries a penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of five times the bribe's value or RM10,000, whichever is greater.

MACC prosecuting officer Muhammad Arif Asyraf Mohd Khairi proposed bail set at RM20,000 with two local sureties. Additional conditions included monthly reporting to the MACC office, surrendering of Jiang's passport, and avoiding contact with witnesses.

Defense lawyer Muhammad Denial Khairul Hizam accepted the bail and conditions laid out by the prosecution. The court approved the release of Jiang on bail under these terms and scheduled the case for re-mention on March 6.

Earlier, on January 23, Soon, who acts as an agent for the implicated company, also pleaded not guilty to the bribery charge against the DOE officer.