ALOR STAR: A police sergeant claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today after he was charged with accepting a RM2,500 bribe from a man being investigated for a theft two years ago.

Mohd Nazuli Mohd Nazari, 35, made the plea when the charge was read to him before Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad.

The father of two was alleged to have received the bribe as an inducement not to take further action against the man suspected of stealing two cell phones at a telecommunications shop in Baling town.

Nazuli was attached with the Baling district police detective division when he committed the alleged offence.

According to the charge, Nazuli committed the offence in a Perodua Axia car at the Baling District Health Office Inspectorate Division Office parking area about 4.27pm on Dec 3, 2019.

He was charged under Section 17 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same Act.

It carries a maximum 20 years imprisonment and a fine not less than five times the amount of bribe or RM10,000 or whichever is higher.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Tan Sew Ping proposed the court to impose RM10,000 bail for the accused.