KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah was charged in the Sessions Court today, with failing to declare a commission amounting to RM961,500 two years ago. He pleaded not guilty.

The bespectacled Ku appeared calm when the charge was read out before judge Mohd Nasir Nordin.

He was charged under Section 49 (3) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which carries a fine not exceeding RM1 million or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.

He allegedly committed the offence when he did not declare the commission in a statement of oath dated Jan 8, 2014.

Ku was earlier brought to court in handcuffs, accompanied by officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

MACC deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Saifuddin Hashim asked for bail to be set at RM100,000.

He said Ku could have been fined an additional RM1,000 per day from Dec 23, 2013 until Jan 21, 2014 as he had failed to comply with MACC's notice to declare the commission during this period.

Ku's lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent requested for RM10,000 bail, stating that it was a reasonable amount as his client had cooperated with the anti-graft agency throughout the investigation.

The lawyer also said Ku had no reason to flee the country.

Judge Mohd Nasir allowed bail of RM30,000 in one surety.

The case is set for mention on Feb 23.

Ku is currently at the federal police management division, after being transferred there in 2014, following an MACC investigation involving a group of officers.

The Malaysian Insider had reported two years ago that 60 policemen were under investigation in one of the biggest anti-graft operations carried out by various agencies.

It was reported that the operation began after a disgruntled policeman who was part of the group spilled the beans on his colleagues, after he became dissatisfied with his monthly payoff.

A high-powered operation involving MACC, Bank Negara, the Inland Revenue Department, National Registration Department, Immigration Department and Customs was launched, and some 60 policemen were taken in for questioning.