SEREMBAN: Two Immigration officers have pleaded not guilty at a Sessions Court here to receiving bribes totalling RM15,500 from middlemen to release foreigners who had violated immigration laws.

       Mohamad Izhmi Mohamad Noor, 35, and Muhammad Ali Mohammed Redzwa, 27, who were working at the klia2 airport in Sepang claimed trial to the charges before judge Datin Surita Budin.

       Mohamad Izhmi was charged with receiving a RM10,000 bribe from one Mohamad Jeffry Mohd Zain at a shop in Kg Jijan, Nilai, in October last year, knowing this to be related to his work as a civil servant.

       He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both.

       He also faces an alternative charge of accepting RM10,000 from the same individual to release an Indonesian for flouting provisions under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

       He was accused under Section 25(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 for failing to report the incident to the MACC or a police officer, which is punishable under Section 25(2).

       He now faces a fine of up to RM100,000 or a jail term of up to 10 years or both.

       Muhammad Ali faces four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code for accepting a total of RM5,500 from one Zul Anishaffizie Zakaria and Era Services Network.

       The cash was allegedly banked into his wife’s account and one belonging to another individual.

       He also faces four alternative counts under Section 25(1) of the MACC Act 2009 of accepting the money to release foreigners who had violated Immigration laws without following proper procedures and failing to report the matter to the authorities.

       The court fixed bail at RM10,000 for Mohamad Izhmi and ordered him to report to the nearest MACC office every month.

       Muhammad Ali was released on RM20,000 bail for all the charges and also told to report to the nearest MACC office.

       Surita fixed Aug 23 for mention.