SEREMBAN, 5 Sept 2008: Negeri Sembilan state assemblyman for Lenggeng Mustafa Salim pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of corruption.
Mustafa, 50, is alleged to have solicited a bribe of RM3,000 from Manimaran a/l Marimuthu as an inducement to issue a letter of support for Manimaran to obtain a permit to sell sand.
He is alleged to have sought the bribe through Mustafa Pendek at Lot 1321, Mukim Pantai in Seremban at about 11am on 28 Aug 2008.
On the second charge, he is alleged to have received a RM2,000 bribe from Manimaran for the same purpose at Restoran Jahrin Maju, Bunga Raya 2/1, Taman Bunga Raya 2 in Mantin at about 5pm on 31 Aug.
If convicted under section 10 (a) (aa) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997, he faces a jail term of not less than 14 days and not more than 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount of graft involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on each charge.
Judge Kamaruddin Kansun allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety and fixed 27 Feb 2009 next year for trial. Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Razak Musa of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) appeared for the prosecution while Mustafa was represented by counsel S Paramasneswaran, Raftfizi Zainal Abidin and Abdul Halim Othman. – Bernama
