KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysiakini journalist B. Nantha Kumar has pleaded not guilty at the Shah Alam Sessions Court to charge of receiving a RM20,000 bribe as inducement not to report on migrant worker trafficking syndicates.
The 42-year-old was charged under Section 16 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fine of five times the value of the alleged bribe if found guilty.
Nantha Kumar claimed trial before judge Datuk Nasir Nordin, who later granted him bail of R10,000 in one surety. His employer, Malaysiakini, paid the bail, according to the news portal’s report on the case this morning. He is currently suspended from work with full benefits.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court until his case is completed and to report to the MACC once a month.
The court fixed April 23 for case management.
According to the charge, Nantha Kumar allegedly received the bribe from a Pakistani national, one Muhammad Zahid, as inducement to “take down or not upload” any article on Pakistani migrant worker syndicates or cartels on Malaysiakini.
Nantha Kumar allegedly committed the offence at the Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam, at 11.45pm on Feb 28.
Bernama reports that lawyer P Purshotaman represented Nantha Kumar, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Alis Izzat Azurin Mohd Rusi appeared for the prosecution.
DPP Alis Izzati proposed bail of RM20,000, to which lawyer Purshotaman pleaded for a lower bail of RM5,000, citing his client’s financial responsibility in supporting his two children, aged 18 and 11.
He argued that his client’s role in helping to expose a syndicate threatening national security and his willingness to risk his life to assist the government should be taken into consideration.
“My client is an award-winning journalist. Our justice system works on the presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Suppose an excessive bail amount and conditions are imposed, he will be forced to remain in prison until the case is concluded,” Bernama reported the lawyer saying.
“He has great respect for the court and voluntarily appeared in court after being informed by the investigating officer two days ago, demonstrating his commitment to respecting the legal process,” he added. – March 14, 2025