KUALA LUMPUR: A former investigating officer of the Selangor Religious Department (Jais) was charged in a Sessions Court here with trying to get a bribe in the form of sexual gratification from a salon worker.

Amiruddin Hassan, 34, who was then Jais Islamic affairs assistant, was said to have attempted to get such a bribe from Hazlin Sulaiman, 43, as an inducement to settle her case.

Hazlin was alleged to have committed an offence under Section 10(a) of the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995 - which causes disgrace to the Islamic religion.

Hazlin was found in a massage parlour's kitchen in Jalan SS2/24 in Petaling Jaya during a raid by the Jais enforcement team at 4pm on April 19.

At that time, a 29-year-old woman and a Bangladeshi were also found in the same kitchen.

Hazlin, who is a single mother, was handed over to Amiruddin, who was then the investigating officer, to handle her case.

Amiruddin was accused of committing the offence at Hotel Mexico in Jalan Tambi Pillay at 9.15pm on May 8.
Upon hearing the charge Monday, Amiruddin of Klang calmly uttered "no" and claimed trial.

If convicted, he can be sentenced up to 20 years? jail and fined five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, under Section 16 of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

Hazlin, of Kelana Jaya, had lodged a complaint over the matter at 1.45pm on May 8.

On Monday, DPP Nik Azrin Nik Abdullah asked the court to set his bail at RM8,000 in one surety saying that it was to prevent him from disturbing their witness.

"There is a possibility of him disturbing the complainant," the prosecutor said.

DPP Nik Azrin also confirmed that the accused was an enforcement officer who handled the arrest case of Hazlin.
Pleading for lower bail, Amiruddin said he had been terminated from his previous job.

He claimed that he had also been cheated through an SMS scheme where he had suffered losses of RM1,600.

In asking for the court's mercy for reduced bail, he said that he had to support three young children.

Sessions Court judge Zamri Ibrahim granted his bail at RM3,000 in one surety.

Zamri also forbade him from disturbing any prosecution witnesses as an additional bail condition.

The judge set Dec 10 for mention, pending the appointment of a lawyer for him.
He failed to post bail.