Nur Fazreen Mohamad Kamal, 45, former head of a ministry's corporate communications unit, was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court on June 3 over a charge of receiving a RM5,268 bribe [1, 2].
The bribery allegedly occurred at a bank in Jalan Bukit Bintang on May 11, 2023, when payment was made online from the bank account of Tulip Event Exhibition Enterprise to KB Gold 2 Enterprise jewellery shop [1, 2]. The bribe was a partial payment for a gold bracelet weighing 39.30 grams [1, 2].
The payment was intended to induce verification of a Government Order Application Form linked to rental services for exhibition equipment for Trenchless Asia 2023 held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, valued at RM49,950 [1, 2].
The charge was under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher [1, 2].
On May 7, the MACC offered a compound under Section 92 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA) to the accused, who paid the compound on May 12, leading to the withdrawal of charges [1, 2]. MACC Prosecuting Officer A. Selvam said, "On May 7, the MACC offered a compound under Section 92 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, and the accused paid the compound on May 12" [2].
Judge Suzana Hussin ruled, "Given that the accused has paid the compound as offered by the MACC, the court grants the defence's application for the accused to be discharged and acquitted of these charges" [2].
