KUANTAN, MALAYSIA: Two policemen will face a joint trial for allegedly taking RM2,000 bribe from a couple who were caught for khalwat (close proximity).

Sessions Court judge Hassan Abdul Ghani fixed five days for hearing beginning Feb 23.

Corporal Abdul Jalil Ahmad, 48, and Lance Corporal Borhan Yusof, 49, were alleged to have taken the money from Zilatul Lily Abdul Rahman and Ahmad Asyraf Shakri last June as an inducement not to send the couple to the State Religious Department.

The policemen from the district police headquarters here allegedly committed the offence near SJK (C) Semambu about 1.30am on June 22. The couple were nabbed earlier in front of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Agriculture Park.

Borhan also faced two other charges -- accepting another RM50 from Ahmad Asyraf at the same place and time and taking RM500 from Zilatul Lily at Rahath Restaurant, Lorong Pasar Baru 3 here at 4.25pm on July 5.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutor Kwan Lisa requested for a joint trial as the cases involved the same witnesses.

On Dec 24, the duo claimed trial to the same charges and were released on RM2,000 bail each in one surety.

But judge Jagjit Singh fixed yesterday for re-mention after the prosecution sought a new date over a technical problem related to the third charge against Borhan.