Two customs personnel and a Johor Lands and Mines office employee were separately charged in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru today with receiving bribes in connection with smuggling sand to Singapore last year.

Customs superintendent's assistant Syahrol Md Zain, 31, Customs superintendent Kamarudin Ismail, 49, and Johor Lands and Mines office worker Johairi Ahmad, 41, were charged in separate courts under section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which carries a maximum 20 years jail and a fine five times the amount of graft involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.

Syahrol, of the preventive division, faces two counts of accepting a total of RM5,600 from Sendry Anak Ugi alias Ah Sim, 33, as inducement to refrain from taking action against seven lorries for smuggling sand to Singapore.

The offences were allegedly committed in a room in Hotel The Zon and at the Trevi Lounge Bar, Hotel Grand Blue Wave, at about 1.15pm on July 10 and at 7.37pm on Aug 5 last year.

Judge Muhamad Jamil Husin allowed bail of RM5,000 on both counts and fixed March 9 for mention.

Kamarudin, of the technical services division, was charged with three counts of accepting a total of 12,500 from Zacharias Kho to speed up and facilitate his application for the classification of goods.

The offences were allegedly committed at Restoran Bindu Curry House and a room at Hotel Grand Blue Wave here at 6pm on July 23, 7pm on Aug 14 and 8pm on Sept 7 last year.

Represented by counsel Khairul Aswat, he was allowed bail of RM5,000 on all three counts by judge Salawati Djambari who fixed May 10, 11 and 12 for mention.

Johairi was charged with receiving a RM800 bribe from Sendry to refrain from taking action against four of the lorries for smuggling sand to Singapore.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Hotel Grand Blue Wave at 4.09pm on Aug 6 last year.

Judge Aliman Musri allowed bail of RM6,000 with one surety and fixed March 26 for mention.

- Bernama