KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 3): A  Royal Malaysian Customs Department officer and civilian were charge for alleged bribery today under the latest slew of charges by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

This is in relation to alleged smuggling of alcohol and cigarettes by the customs department.

Thevakumar Ramasamy, 38, an officer with the import-export branch in Penang, was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code on allegation of taking a RM1,000 bribe in May this year.

Should Thevakumar be found guilty, he could either face up to two years imprisonment or slapped with a fine, or both.

Thevakumar, who represented himself in court today, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. 

Sessions Court Judge Rosbiahanin Arifin set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and ordered  the accused's passport be surrendered to the court.

Meanwhile, Ooi Geim Leong, 41, was slapped with three charges for alleged collusion with a customs officer and allowing the usage of his account to transfer funds for the alleged RM10,000 bribe.

Ooi was charged under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009. Should Ooi be found guilty, he could face up to 20 years imprisonment and face a fine up to five times the amount of the bribe.

Ooi, who also represented himself today, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Senior customs officer Som Chit a/l Tiang, whom Ooi was allegedly colluding with, was charged separately last Monday.

Sessions Court Judge Allaudeen Ismail set bail at RM12,000 with one surety. Allaudeen had instructed that the accused's passport be surrendered to the court.

Both cases are set to be mentioned again this November 10.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Husmarudin Husin acted on behalf of MACC.