A police inspector today pleaded not guilty to a charge of receiving a bribe of RM2,000 so as not to take action against a man suspected of being involved in drugs.

Norshuhizam Mohamad Shoib, 29, who is attached to the Ipoh police headquarters' Narcotics CID branch, made the plea after the charge was read to him before Sessions Court judge Noor Hayati Mat.

Norshuhizam is alleged to have received RM2,000 as inducement from suspected drug offender Fariq Adha Momad Nor, in a Perodua Kancil car in Medan Gopeng, Ipoh, at about 11.45am on July 15, 2009.

He is being charged under Section 24 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

MACC prosecuting officer Hamzah Mohd Aris proposed bail of RM5,000, saying corruption was a serious offence. However, the accused who was unrepresented, said he could not afford the amount and asked it be reduced to RM3,000.

Noor Hayati then fixed the bail at RM4,000 in one surety and fixed Feb 2 for mention of the case. The accused paid the bail.

- Bernama