JOHOR BARU: Two Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers were charged at the Sessions Court here with cheating an individual of RM40,000 last week.

       Amir Izham Shahak, 32, who is the assistant superintendent at the MACC Kluang branch, pleaded guilty while Wan Kamarul Za'im Wan Mansor, 34, who is the superintendent at the Johor MACC, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before Judge Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.

       According to the charge sheet, the two with common intentions, deceived a 35-year-old man by fraudulently encouraging him to hand over RM40,000 in cash to the two accused, with the alleged intention that they could help solve the case investigated by the Johor MACC on the individual.

       The duo allegedly committed the act at a restaurant near Jalan Benut, Kampung Ibrahim Majid, Simpang Renggam on Oct 14 at 7.57pm.

       The offence is punishable under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating and read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

       If convicted, they could be jailed for up to five years, or fined, or both.

       The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhaili Sapun while Amir Izham and Wan Kamarul Za'im were represented by Mohd Salleh Togimin and Mohd Azlan Shah Mohd Allias respectively.

       Earlier, Suhaili offered bail of RM35,000 each with a local surety with an additional condition where the accused is required to submit their international passport to the court.

       However, Mohd Salleh, in mitigation, requested the sentence to be postponed to another date and pleaded for a lower bail as Amir Izham is still supporting his unemployed wife and three children.

       Mohd Azlan, in his defence for Wan Kamarul Za'im, also pleaded for lower bail as the accused is still supporting his wife who is three months pregnant and taking care of their four children.

       The court then ordered the two accused to pay bail of RM7,000 each with a local surety with the additional terms of surrendering their international passport to the court.

       The court also set Nov 24 for next mention.

       The accused paid the bail.