KOTA KINABALU: An administrative officer has pleaded not guilty to abusing his position by approving his wife’s bid to purchase a department vehicle in 2018.

       Mohaidy Tabin, 43, was charged before Tawau Sessions Court judge Awang Krisnada Awang Mahmud.

       According to the charge sheet, the accused, who was the chief of the Tawau branch of the Insolvency Department, had allegedly used his position as quotation committee chairman to approve his wife’s RM15,000 bid for a used Toyota Fortuner from the department on Oct 18, 2018.

       Mohaidy was charged with committing an offence under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same Act.

       If convicted, he can be sentenced to 20 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

       The court set bail at RM9,000 in one local surety and set April 8 for case management.

       The judge also ordered Mohaidy to report to the MACC office once a month and hand over his passport to the court.

       He is also prohibited from approaching witnesses.

       The prosecution was led by Rekhraj Singh while Mohaidy was represented by lawyer Jhesseny P. Kang.