JOHOR BARU, Aug 14 — A contractor was charged in the Sessions Court here today with offering a RM500,000 bribe to a police officer.

However, Zulkifli Ali, 49, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read before Sessions Court registrar Norhidayah Abdul Manaf.

He is accused of offering the bribe to Muar Narcotic Criminal Investigation Division head, ASP Abdul Ghani Talib, as an inducement to set him free for an alleged drug offence.

The offence was allegedly committed at a house at Block C, Pangsapuri Indah, Jalan Salleh, Muar, at 2.45pm on April 12 this year.

Prosecution was conducted by prosecuting officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption commission, Ridzuan Abd Malik, while Zulkifli was unrepresented.

Norhidayah allowed Zulkifli set bail at RM20,000, but he failed to post the bail.

Hearing has been set on September 18. — Bernama