ALOR STAR: A Road Transport Department (RTD) officer was charged at the Sessions Court here today with 40 counts of failing to report corruption offences totalling RM42,100, which occurred between 2016 and 2019.

The accused, Mohamad Sobri Osman, 39, claimed trial after the charges were read to him by the court interpreter before judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.

According to the charge, the accused, as a motor vehicle examiner attached to the Kuala Ketil RTD branch, received RM42,100 in bribes through his Maybank account from Pro-Star Transport manager Saw Chee Leong between March 10, 2016, and October 8, 2019.

The bribes were given to the accused so that no action would be taken against Pro-Star Transport's lorries, which might commit offences under the Road Transport Act 1987.

The accused was charged under Section 25(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 for failing to report the bribes to the MACC.

If found guilty, Sobri could face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, a fine of up to RM100,000, or both for each charge.

MACC prosecutor Mohd Zulfadli Azharuddin prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer Mohamed Firdaus M. Farouk.

Zulfadli requested the court to set bail at RM40,000, require the accused to surrender his passport, and report to a MACC office monthly.

In his plea, Firdaus requested a minimum bail, citing that his client needed to support his unemployed wife and two school-going children aged 12 and 10, in addition to facing possible suspension from work.

The judge granted bail at RM27,000 with one surety and required the accused to surrender his passport and report to a MACC office monthly.

The court set Aug 22 for mention. The accused posted bail.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/07/1078147/rtd-officer-claims-trial-40-charges-failing-report-graft-offences