Sungai petani: An officer of the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to three charges of soliciting and accepting bribes totalling RM11,500. The charges relate to facilitating JBPM licensing support letters for three companies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari Bar Azwar, 40, a Fire Superintendent (Grade KB9) attached to the JBPM Zone 2 Office in Sungai Petani, entered the plea after the charges were read before Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.

On the first charge, Johari is accused of accepting RM1,500 in cash from Khaw Kok Aun, 66, the owner of Kejuruteraan Union Langkawi Sdn Bhd, to obtain a JBPM licensing support letter for the company. The offence was allegedly committed behind a restaurant at Amanjaya Mall, Sungai Petani, at about 12.30 pm on April 4, 2024.

He was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. This charge is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

For the second and third charges, Johari was accused of soliciting and accepting RM10,000 in cash from Lim Zhan Xian, 27, the owner of Jin Hua Tong Sdn Bhd. This was allegedly to issue a JBPM licensing support letter dated Feb 3, 2025, for Jin Hua Tong Sdn Bhd and another company named RSM Megamaju Sdn Bhd. The offences were allegedly committed in front of the Jin Hua Tong Sdn Bhd premises in the Taman Ria Jaya Industrial Area, Sungai Petani, at about 3 pm on Feb 4, 2025.

For both charges, he was charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009, which is also punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act. The court has granted Johari bail of RM16,000 for all three charges and fixed Sept 9 for mention.

MACC prosecuting officer Mohd Zulfadli Azharudin appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad and Nur Azimul Azami represented Johari.