KUALA LUMPUR (April 4): The founder and former managing director of a massage chain and his wife were charged with 68 counts of bribery at the Sessions Court here on Thursday for receiving financial inducements from the owner of a massage oil supplier.

Chuah Seong Keat, 59, and Wong Choi Nyet, 58, claimed trial to the charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 — solicits or receives inducement for their or another’s benefit — before Sessions Court judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.

If found guilty, the duo face a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher.

Awang Kerisnada set bail at RM100,000 each with separate sureties as well as ordered the couple to surrender their passports and report to the MACC every month.

The judge fixed June 10 for mention.

The Star reported that Chuah, who was previously a director of the massage facility chain, and Wong, had from 2014 to 2020 received bribes amounting to RM656,395 from the massage oil supplier.

It is understood that Chuah, better known as Leon Chuah, left his role as managing director of the company in October 2020.

The purpose of the financial inducement was allegedly for the supplier to be awarded the job for supplying massage oil to the massage centre chain.

In January last year, Chuah was charged with misappropriating RM60,000 from the massage chain for personal use.

Meanwhile, he was later in April 2023 remanded by the anti-graft body together with former executive director Thuan Chew Boon in relation to the procurement of overpriced massage oil from a company deemed to be a related party.