MELAKA: Two men believed to be scammers were charged at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here with bribing a policeman with RM60,000 to avoid action to be taken against them for an offence.

       Friends Teo Teck Qing, 26, and Keong Kah Wai, 19, pleaded not guilty before judge Elesabet Paya Wan.

       Teo was charged with giving a bribe of RM60,000 to Deputy Supt Supari Muhamad of the Melaka Tengah police headquarters as an inducement to not take action against him and his friends for alleged cheating.

       The offence was allegedly committed in front of the 99 Speedmart, Simpang Point Phase II, Simpang Ampat, Alor Gajah at about 1.15pm on June 1, 2023.

       Keong was charged with abetting Teo in the act at the same place and date, Bernama reported.

       Teo was charged under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, while Keong was charged under Section 28 (1) (c) of the MACC Act read together with Section 17(b) and Section 24 (1) of the same law.

       They face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a maximum fine of five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

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       Elesabet allowed Teo and Keong bail of RM40,000 and RM30,000 in one surety respectively, and ordered them to report to the Melaka MACC office once a month and to surrender their passports to the court.

       Deputy public prosecutor from MACC Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohamad Ali prosecuted, while lawyer Umar Zulkarnain represented both accused.

       The court set May 21 for mention.