A Works Ministry director was charged in the Sessions Court in Kuantan today with receiving bribe of RM42,000 in 2013.

Shaiful Azman Taha, 39, who is director of the Contractor Service Centre of the ministry in Pahang, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Dazuki Ali.

He was charged with receiving the bribe from one Hamdan Mat Hasan, a technician at NZH Murni Enterprise, as an inducement for him to issue a bumiputera contractor certificate for the company.

Shaiful was alleged to have received the money at a house in Taman Pelindung Jaya here between 3pm and 4pm on Dec 21, 2013.

The charge, under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of five times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher if found guilty.

Shaiful was arrested on Feb 8 last year following a complaint lodged with MACC on Jan 26 the same year.

Deputy public prosecutor from MACC, Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamri, who prosecuted, offered bail at RM40,000, but lawyer Mohd Fauzi Razali, representing Shaiful, requested the amount to be reduced, saying that his client, who was the sole family breadwinner, was supporting his mother, wife and two children.

Following which, Dazuki allowed Shaiful to be released on a bail of RM15,000 in one surety.

The court also set Feb 28 for mention for submission of documents.

- Bernama