Dec.30, 2009, 19:23 PM

A Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) officer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here Wednesday on a charge of receiving RM5,500 as bribes last year.

Resad Dillah, 54, was charged with receiving the amount from Lee Chee Kiong as an inducement to speed up the approval for 27 new e-petrol smart card applications.

He is alleged to have committed the offence on Sept 23, 2008 in his office in Bandar Fajar, here.

The charge, under Section 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, and punishable under Section 16 of the same Act, carries an imprisonment of not more than 20 years and fine not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Judge Indra Ayub granted Resad bail of RM15,000 with two sureties and deposit of RM1,000.

The trial was fixed for March 1 to 5 next year.

Deputy Public prosecutor Awang Samsul Baharam Bongsu of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuted while Resad was not represented.