SHAH ALAM (March 14): Malaysiakini reporter B Nantha Kumar, who has been publishing investigative reports exposing migrant worker syndicates, has claimed trial to allegations of receiving a RM20,000 bribe.

The senior journalist, who turns 42 next month, was charged on Friday with accepting a RM20,000 bribe from Pakistani Muhammad Zahid to avoid publishing articles about a migrant worker cartel.

The charge is framed under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissions Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.

If convicted, Nantha could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of at least five times the amount of the bribe he accepted.

Nantha, a seasoned reporter, has published his version of events on the Malaysiakini news portal as he sternly refuted the allegations. Malaysiakini expressed its support for its reporter, but has suspended Nantha with full benefits, pending an internal investigation.

The court room was packed on Friday, filled with Malaysiakini reporters present to show support for their colleague.

Also present was Malaysiakini managing editor Ng Ling Fong, who expressed the news organisation's support for its journalist, saying that he is innocent until proven guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Alis Izzati Azurin Mohd Rusdi stated that the charge is a non-bailable offence but left the decision to the court's discretion. If bail were granted, she requested it be set at RM 20,000.

In addition to the standard bail conditions, she urged that Nantha’s articles related to the case be removed and that no further articles be published, as they could prejudice the case.

She also highlighted that white-collar crimes like this carry a significant flight risk.

Nantha's lawyer Burshotaman Puvanendran requested a bail of RM5,000, emphasising that Nantha is married with two daughters, aged 18 and 11. He also highlighted that Nantha has been fully cooperative with the authorities.

"He is an award-winning journalist and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. My client respects the process of law and it is public knowledge that my client was helping break the foreign migrant syndicate. It is a national service." he argued.

Sessions Court judge Datuk Mohd Nasir Nordi set bail at RM10,000 and ordered the journalist to report to the nearest MACC office monthly, with his passport seized by the court.

The judge made no mention of removing related articles, nor of barring any future articles.

The court has set April 23 for case mention.