Kuala Lumpur, Jun 16 : Malaysian authorities have charged a second football coach in a widening scandal over match-fixing at a domestic youth tournament.Sufiah Ngah is the third suspect to be charged this month amid intensified efforts to combat sports corruption.
The Star newspaper reported Thursday that Sufiah, 41, pleaded not guilty at a district court Wednesday with giving bribes totaling 5,000 ringgit ($1,649) to six members of his team in northeastern Terengganu state while competing in Malaysia's President's Cup for under-20 players last year.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine if convicted. The court fixed a June 30 date for a preliminary hearing.Coach Yusarman Yusof was charged on June 6 with allegedly paying bribes totaling nearly 25,000 ringgit ($8,000) to 11 players of his team in southern Negri Sembilan state competing at the President's Cup.
A Singaporean man R.K. Rajendran this week became the second suspect charged after it was alleged he paid bribes totaling 1,200 ringgit ($400) to four players.AP
