Ex Immigration DG charged for bribery

From Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Former Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to receiving a RM60,000 bribe from a businessman to speed up the approval of visas for 4,337 Bangladeshi workers.
Wahid, 56, is alleged to have received the money from Datuk Low Chang Hian at his house in Jalan Lembah Ledang, off Jalan Duta, on July 10.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the bribe involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah allowed bail of RM50,000 with one surety and fixed five days from May 18 next year for trial.
Wahid was brought to the court complex in Jalan Duta at about 9.30am escorted by ACA officers and his family members.
Deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais asked the court to set bail at RM100,000 with one surety and to impound his international passport.
He also told the court that the prosecution was calling 25 witnesses.
Defence counsel Datuk V. Sithambaram urged the court to release Wahid on a personal bond as his client was a law-abiding, high-ranking government officer and would not abscond.
Sithambaram said Wahid had cooperated fully with the ACA in its investigation and, moreover, would lose everything if he absconded.
Wahid, who has been the Immigration director-general since Oct 1, 2006, has been transferred to the Public Service Department pending the disposal of the case. — Bernama