KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — An assistant manager at the editorial department of The Star pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of receiving bribe of RM20,000 last month.

M Youganesparan, 54, made the plea after the charge was read before judge Madihah Harullah.

He was charged with receiving the bribe from one Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah, 54, purportedly to be given to a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer as an inducement for the officer concerned to settle a case involving Mohd Emir who was allegedly under investigation by the commission.

Youganesparan was alleged to have committed the offence at the Dome Café, Lot G20, Vista Power, The Intermark, Jalan Tun Razak here at about 9.15pm on May 30.

The charge, under Section 16 (a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009, provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

Youganesparan was allowed bail of RM30,000 with one surety and also ordered to surrender his passport to the court.

The court also set July 7 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor from MACC, Siti Syakimah Ibrahim, prosecuted, while lawyer G Shankar represented Youganesparan. — Bernama