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THE Deputy Director of the Department of Environment (JAS) appeared in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today charged with six counts of accepting RM21,000 from a scheduled waste management company four years ago.
Dr Norhazni Mat Sari, 59, pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read out in court through an interpreter before Judge Azura Alwi.
According to the indictment, Norhazni, in her capacity as Deputy Director (Development) at JAS, allegedly received the sum from E-Concern (Borneo) Sdn Bhd without providing any service in return, fully aware that the company director had dealings connected to her official duties.
The payment was said to be made via online transfer to her child’s bank account at a Bukit Bintang branch on 18 April 2022.
The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the court that both sides had agreed to set bail at RM25,000, and the defendant’s passport was to be surrendered to the court.
Defence lawyer Haresh Mahadevan requested that the passport be held only until his client returned from a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled from 16 to 26 June.
Judge Azura Alwi allowed bail of RM25,000 but rejected the request to delay the surrender of the passport until after the overseas meeting.
The next case management session has been scheduled for 19 May. - April 3, 2026