KUALA LUMPUR – It is “double trouble” for a former deputy manager of a government agency, even though she claimed trial to soliciting RM30,000 and receiving RM13,900 in bribes as an inducement to approve a grant to organise a concert last year.
Noor Fadhilah Mohd Idris, who is eight months pregnant, pleaded not guilty after her charges were read before sessions court judge Suzanna Hussin, here today.
She was accused of soliciting RM30,000 from one Abd Zamin Abd Kadir, between January and March last year, as an inducement to get approval for Syarikat Playmad Sdn Bhd, which applied for a grant under the Digital Content Fund to organise the Double Trouble 2 concert.
She was also slapped with one charge of receiving RM13,900 bribe from Anggerik Event Sdn Bhd on September 11 the same year, in relation to the concert.
Both her charges were under Section 16(1)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries maximum 20 years in jail and a fine amounting to five times the amount of the alleged bribe, or RM10,000, depending on which is higher, if she is found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohamad Ali applied for a RM20,000 bail for both charges, as well as for Noor Fadhilah to report herself at the nearest MACC office, and have her passport surrendered to court.
However, her lawyer Mohd Zali Shaari pleaded for a lower bail, considering she is pregnant and unemployed.
“The accused had lost her job due to this case, and she is a mother of three, with two of them being nine and four years old.”
He also requested for the court to grant a gag order to bar the media from covering the case.
However, the deputy public prosecutor said this is not an unusual case and does not warrant barring the media from reporting on it.
The court then ordered RM13,000 bail and for Noor Fadhilah to surrender her passport and to report to the nearest MACC office monthly.
Case mention is fixed on August 9.
The Double Trouble 2 concert at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam featured legendary bands Search and Wings. It was their first concert appearance together in years. – June 25, 2024