SHAH ALAM: Big Blue Taxi Services founder Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail was today slapped with three counts of soliciting and accepting RM85,000 graft.
Shamsubahrin, who is wheelchair bound, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before Sessions Court judge Rozilah Salleh.
The 55-year-old businessman was accused of soliciting RM15,000 graft from Azizan Mohamed Yassin as an inducement to help resolve the latter's corruption case at the Court of Appeal.
He was also charged with accepting RM35,000 in two stages from the same person and for the same reason.
He was alleged to have committed the offences at Jalan Perindustrian Suntracks, Bangi; Bandar Teknologi Kajang, Semenyih; and Seksyen U8, Bukit Jelutong between March 3 and March 10 this year.
The offences falls under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries 20 years' jail and a fine of up to five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab asked the court to impose RM50,000 bail with one surety against the father of five.
However, counsel Sharuddin Ali pleaded for minimum bail, stating that his client had given full cooperation during investigation.
"My client is a sole breadwinner in his family and he suffers from several health issues," he said.
The court set RM40,000 bail with one surety and fixed Oct 8 for mention.
Earlier, the court withdrew its warrant of arrest issued against Shamsubahrin for failing to appear in court two weeks ago.
Rozila also reminded the accused to inform the court if he faces any health issues for the next proceedings.
