Kota Kinabalu: A 49-year-old civil servant claimed trial in the Special Corruption Court here to 30 charges of corruption involving more than RM87,000.
Normila Ladahali, an Acting Administrative Officer at the Sabah State Library Department, who appeared before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Normila is charged with 18 charges under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and 12 charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
For the 18 charges under the MACC Act, Normila is accused of corruptly attempting to obtain a total of RM55,311.30 from an individual as an inducement to award projects under the State Library Department to several companies.
The money was allegedly deposited into bank accounts belonging to her two children between Nov 2022 and Oct 2023 at Maybank Alam Mesra branch, here.
Under the remaining 12 charges framed under the Penal Code, Normila allegedly attempted to obtain a total of RM32,500 in cash from two individuals, who had official dealings with her.
The money was purportedly channelled into her children’s accounts between April 2022 and June 2023, also at the same bank branch.
Jason fixed Nov 27 for mention of the case.
The court released Normila on RM20,000 bail with a RM2,000 deposit in one surety.
Normila was also ordered to report to the MACC office every two months, surrender her passport to the court, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses.
MACC Prosecuting Officer Dzulkarnain Rousan Hasbi prosecuted, while Normila was not represented.
If convicted, the offence under Section 17(a), punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, carries a jail term of up to 20 years’ and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Meanwhile, the offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code carries up to two years’ jail or a fine, or both, on conviction.