Six officers from the Road Transport Department (RTD) and Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) pleaded not guilty in court to receiving bribes amounting to RM73,600.

They were charged in the Butterworth Special Corruption Sessions Court today before judge Nizam Zakaria, while deputy public prosecutor Selvaranjini Selvaraja prosecuted.

According to MACC, the officers allegedly received the money from lorry companies to avoid enforcement action on their drivers who commit traffic offences.

They received between four and 36 charges each for allegedly accepting bribes ranging from RM800 to RM51,050.

They were charged under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 for accepting gratification, with an alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code for the receipt of an item of value by a public servant.

Section 165 is punishable by up to two years' jail, a fine, or both upon conviction.

RTD enforcement director Ahmad Daniel Magendran Abdullah, 41, was charged with 36 counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM51,050 between March 2015 and August 2018. He was offered bail of RM25,000 with two sureties.

RTD enforcement officer Hasrol Sani Abu Bakar, 39, was charged with five counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM9,100 between September 2017 and April 2018. He was offered bail of RM8,000 with one surety.

RTD enforcement officer Muhammad Airil Teo Abdullah, 31, was charged with 12 counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM6,900 between July 2016 and February 2018. He was offered bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

RTD enforcement officer Najib Mohamad Tarmizi, 32, was charged with four counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM4,000 between March 2018 and June 2018. He was offered bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

Apad officer Ahmad Alamin Don, 33, was charged with four counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM1,750. He was offered bail of RM5,000 with one surety.

RTD enforcement officer Ahmad Tajuddin Husin, 35, was charged with two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM800 in September 2017. He was offered bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

Nizam fixed Sept 12 for mention.

Another 12 officers will be charged tomorrow and Friday, said MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya in Penang yesterday. She was present in court with her deputy Azam Baki.

Today’s charge follows nine Penang RTD officers who were slapped with 164 counts of bribery amounting to RM136,000 on May 27.

Since early this year, 75 of the 139 state RTD enforcement officers were questioned by MACC for alleged acceptance of monthly bribes to protect lorry drivers and companies from various offences, especially overloading.