KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 29): Eight Customs officers were charged with 25 separate charges this morning for receiving bribery amounting to a total of RM31,200 at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

The lower and mid-level officers were charged for allegedly smuggling of alcohol between November 2011 to August 2014.

The lowest amount of bribes received according to the charge sheet was RM 300 and the highest was RM11,000 in several smaller transactions.

All officers were charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which carries a jail sentence of not more than 20 years or a fine of five times the bribe amount.

The first six officers were charged before Sessions Court Judge Rosbiahanin Arifin. All six pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charges.

Lawyer Ridha Abdah Subri represented Mahadir Mohamad, (37) a grade W22 Assistant Enforcement Officer, Kamarul Asmady (37), a grade W17 Assistant Enforcement Officer and Som Chit A/L Tiang (48) a Senior Assistant Customs Director II, ranked grade W48.

Lawyer Mohd Fadly Hashim represented Jamaludin Zamzam (54) a Senior Assistant Customs Director II, ranked grade W48. Lawyer Ahmad Nazri represented Mohamed Rozlan (57) a grade W22 Assistant Enforcement Officer. Sahbandi Abdul Manap represented himself today.

A bail of RM5000 per charge was set for all six with the bail ranging from RM 5000 to RM20,000, one surety and passport to be surrendered to the court.

The second batch of officers were charged before Sessions Court Judge Allaudeen Ismail. Both Amran Ismail (35), a grade W17 Assistant Enforcement Officer and Abdul Rahman Ahmad (35) a grade W17 Assistant Enforcement Officer pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Bail was set for RM 5000 for each offence ranging from a total of RM10,000 to RM25,000, one surety and passport to be surrendered to the court.

Abdul Rahman was represented by Ridha and Nurul Aeir Muhammad Harvian Kamar represented Amran.

All the cases is set to be mentioned on Nov 10.