Published: Wednesday October 2, 2013 MYT 1:26:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday October 2, 2013 MYT 1:28:07 PM
Company director in hot water over fishy business in hotel toilet
BY QISHIN TARIQ
KUALA LUMPUR: A fishing company director claimed trial to two charges of bribery, including an attempt to pay off a maritime officer RM100,000 in a hotel bathroom.
Choh Chaw Khiang, 41, was charged in a Session Court on Wednesday with bribing Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) senior officer Arman Alies as a inducement for him to release two boats held by the MMEA for offenses under the Fisheries Act 1985.
He is alleged to have given RM100,000 on two occasions, first at the Dine All Day Dining restaurant in Hotel Sri Petaling, Bandar Sri Petaling 4.25pm, on June 8, then in the toilet of Melting Pot Restaurant, in Hotel Concorde, on Jalan Sultan Ismail at 1am later that day.
Prosecuting Officer from the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) urged the court to give a high bail amount at RM600,000 per charge with a local surety.
However, counsel R. Kengadharan pleaded for leniency, saying Choh was the sole breadwinner in his family of five and that his wife would not be able to act as his bailor as she was a Vietnamese national.
Choh faces up to twenty years prison or a fine not less than five times the bribe amount, if convicted under Section 16(b)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.
Sessions Judge Rosbiahanin Arifin set bail at RM150,000 for each charge, with one local surety.
She fixed Nov 7 for next mention.
