The MACC has swooped in on two officers from the Pahang Land and Mines Office (PTG) for receiving payments for protection of illegal bauxite mines.

The duo - Pahang PTG assistant director (enforcement) Syed Umar Khalil Syed Khalid, 34, and assistant land officer (enforcement) Fadly Abdul Malek, 35 - were this morning charged at the Kuantan Sessions Court.

They were charged under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act for acceptance of bribes.

Fadly is accused of receiving RM30,000 in bribes on Jan 6 from Anurul Hiraq Abu Bakar in exchange for protection of the latter's illegal bauxite-mining activities.

Syed Umar Khalil was accused of abetting Fadly in soliciting the RM30,000 in bribes.

Fadly also faced a separate charge of accepting RM35,000 in bribes from Anurul Hiraq on Nov 18 for the sale of 13D form, a document required for authorising the transfer of bauxite.

The duo pleaded not guilty and were released on bail of RM10,000 each.

If found guilty, they face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the bribes received under Section 24 of the MACC Act.