A police inspector was charged in the Sessions Court in Sibu with three counts of accepting  RM16,000 to protect illegal logging activity at Sungai Sut, Kapit, last year.

However, Mohamad Nazri Daheri, 36, of the Kapit police Criminal Investigation Department, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was charged with accepting the money from one Stephen Kon at three locations between August and October last year as an inducement for him (Mohamad Nazri) to not take action against illegal logging activities at Sungai Sut.

On the first and second count, he was charged with accepting RM3,000 from Kon at 2.40pm on Aug 24 at a restaurant in Kapit, and RM5,000, which was deposited into an account belonging to one Fitero Rafi-ee at a bank in Tabuan Jaya, Kuching, at 11.58pm on Sept 11, respectively.

The third charge was for accepting RM8,000 from Kon at a hotel here at 10.25am on Oct 20.to give protection on illegal logging

The charges were made under Section 17 (a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provide an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Judge Nixon Kennedy Kumbong set bail at RM10,000 in one surety for all charges and fixed Sept 7 for mention.

He also set  Oct 5 to 9 to hear the case.

The prosecution was conducted by MACC prosecuting officer Katherine Nais, while Mohamad Nazri was represented by lawyer Louis Jarau.

- Bernama