KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Two bank officers pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to charges of accepting bribes totalling RM107,040 involving personal loan applications from customers that exceeded their eligibility limits.
The first accused, Syed Mohd Muhaimin Syed Mohd Mashrof, 42, was charged with 14 counts of receiving RM94,440 in cash deposits from Roshanizam Roslan, 31, while serving as the head of the Financing Unit at Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad's (Bank Rakyat) Kepong branch.
The money was allegedly given as a reward for helping process personal loans for customers who had already applied at other banks and had their loans exceed their borrowing limit.
The offences were allegedly committed at Maybank Metro Prima, Kepong, between April 4, 2023, and December 9, 2024.
Muhaimin was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The second accused, Zayme Zanee Othman, 43, was charged with nine counts of receiving RM12,600 via online transfers from Mohd Farid Aswad Adzahar, 42, while serving as the head of the Bank Rakyat Serdang Raya branch Financing Unit.
He allegedly received the money for helping process a similar loan application.
The offences were allegedly committed at Maybank Islamic Berhad, Perbadanan Putrajaya Complex (Annexe Building), between Sept 8, 2022, and May 16, 2024, under the same section of the law.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat offered bail of RM25,000 for Muhaimin and RM15,000 for Zayme, each with one surety. In addition, they are required to surrender their passports, report to the MACC monthly, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses.
Lawyers Arik Zakri Abdul Kadir and Ahmad Kamal Abu Bakar, representing both accused, requested lower bail, citing their clients’ cooperation, family responsibilities, and clean records.
Judge Rosli Ahmad allowed bail at RM25,000 and RM15,000 respectively with the same conditions, and set November 17 for mention of the case.
