Journalist to face charges this Friday over alleged RM20,000 bribe

PETALING JAYA: Malaysiakini reporter B. Nantha Kumar is expected to be charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court this Friday (March 14) over allegations of accepting a RM20,000 bribe.

Nantha, who has strongly denied the accusation, was informed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday (March 12) that he would be facing charges, reported Malaysiakini.

“I am confident that I will be proven innocent. This is an attempt to silence me and prevent me from further exposing corruption,” he said.

On March 7, Malaysiakini published Nantha’s account of the events that led to his arrest on March 1.

The senior journalist has denied claims that he solicited RM100,000 from a Pakistani national or negotiated the amount down to RM20,000.

Nantha maintained that he had been working with a state immigration director to uncover a syndicate involved in exploiting migrant workers.

Pending the outcome of an independent investigation, Malaysiakini has suspended Nantha with full benefits.