Police officer’s conviction for bribery affirmed

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KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here affirmed the conviction and sentence of a police sergeant cum an assistant investigating officer against his three convictions for bribes.

Justice Ravinthran Paramaguru who dismissed an appeal by Hashim Mahzin, 56, held that there was no reason to interfere with the lower court’s decision.

In upholding the decision, Paramaguru ruled that the sentence was adequate taking into account that the appellant is a policeman, who had abused his position.

However, Paramaguru granted Hashim a stay of execution pending his appeal to the Court of Appeal and maintained his earlier bail, pending disposal of the case.

On Jan 9 this year, the Corruption Court here sentenced the appellant to a total of 30 months’ jail and RM30,000 fine, in default, nine months’ imprisonment for three corruption charges committed four years ago.

He was found guilty of the charges framed under Section Section 16 (a) (B) of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, carries a maximum jail of 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

On the first count, he was jailed for eight months and fined RM10,000, in default, three months’ jail for corruptly receiving RM1,000 from a woman for the purpose of settling a molest case of the woman’s relative.

On the second charge, he received another 10 months’ jail and RM10,000 fine, in default, three months’ jail for accepting a bribe from the same woman for the same purpose and on the third count, he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment plus RM10,000 fine, in default, three months’ jail for receiving a RM500 bribe from a man for the same purpose.

The offences were committed at the Kota Belud police station and at a restaurant in Kota Belud between Oct 16, 2010 and Dec14, 2010. The lower court ordered the appellant to serve his jail sentences concurrently and the appellant had paid the fine.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Joyce Blasius stood in for DPP Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah for the respondent while the appellant was represented by counsel Zahir Shah.