A SALES manager was charged on Tuesday with corruptly offering two red packets each containing $500 to a higher customs officer to be lenient in his investigation.

Lee Soon Pei, 23, a Malaysian, is accused of offering the bribe to Mr Azhar Ahmed so that he would be lenient in investigating Ghali Trading for suspected failure to declare dutiable items.

The alleged offence took place at Sungei Kadut Loop on Oct 10 last year.

A Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau statement said two containers had been declared to contain used auto parts when it had used motor vehicles on Oct 9.

The two containers were subsequently released to Ghali Trading pending Customs inspection.

The next day, Mr Azhar and a colleague inspected the sealed containers.

It was after their inspection that the alleged offence took place.

A pre-trial conference will be held on Jan 16.