KOTA KINABALU: The Corruption Court yesterday freed a civil servant for the second time from a charge of attempting to cheat a man more than three and a half years ago.
In a reserved verdict, Sessions Court judge Dean Wayne Daly acquitted and discharged Razali Mohamad, 34, from the charge after ruling that the defence had cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.
Razali who was defended by counsel Hamid Ismail, was alleged to have attempted to deceive the victim by representing to him (the victim) that he (Razali) could help the victim to manage an application for employment submitted by the victim’s sister-in-law to the Public Service Commission (SPA).
The charge also stated that Razali would assist the victim’s sister-in-law until she secured a letter of appointment issued by the SPA and to report herself for duty according to the position which she had applied for, which then induced the victim to hand over to Razali RM1,000 at the lobby separating the offices of the Immigration Department and the National Registration Department at the Federal Building on Feb 4, 2009.
Razali who hails from Tuaran was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code, which carries a jail term of five years and whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Razali was freed of the charge on June 22, 2011, by the Corruption Court without calling for his defence after it was ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
The prosecution later appealed against the acquittal in the High Court and was allowed.
Razali who was the sole defence witness was ordered to enter his defence on Sept 18 this year.