Johor Port deputy chief executive officer Mohamad Hanafiah Abu Mansor was charged in the Sessions Court here Thursday with two counts of corruption, involving projects worth RM2.7 million.

However, he pleaded not guilty to the charges before judge Mohamad Haidar Abdul Aziz.

Mohamad Hanafiah, 47, was charged with soliciting 10% of the cost of the project, 'The Proposed Construction and Completion of Kampung Sungai Pendas - Alternatif Villager's Logistic Road For Medini Development Iskandar Malaysia', from one Mohd Zulkifli Arif.

The amount requested was purportedly for one Mohd Amin Suhaimi was as an inducement for helping Syarikat Segi Mulia Sdn Bhd to obtain the contract for the project, costing RM2.7 million, from Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

The offence was allegedly committed by Mohamad Hanafiah, then the vice-president of Iskandar Invesment Bhd (IIB) and chief executive officer of Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, at a restaurant in Danga Bay here in June 2009.

He was also charged with accepting RM25,000 from Mohd Zulkifli, purportedly for Mohd Amin as a reward for helping Syarikat Segi Mulia Sdn Bhd to be awarded the project.

The offence was allegedly committed at a parking area behind the office of Iskandar Investment Bhd, Danga Bay here between 3pm and 4pm in January 2010.

Prosecuting officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Abdul Ghafar Abdul Latiff, offered bail at RM200,000 with a surety.

However, lawyer Zamri Idrus, representing Mohamad Hanafiah, requested for a lower bail saying that his client cooperated with the MACC during the investigation.

Mohamad Haidar then set bail at RM100,000 with two sureties and set Nov 28 for mention.