KOTA KINABALU: A former teacher of a primary school was jailed a total of two years and six months by the Corruption Court here yesterday for committing criminal breach of trust in relation to the financial assistance for poor students which was entrusted to him.
Judge Caroline Bee Majanil convicted Othman @ Awang Hj Abd Wahid, 54, who was the students affairs senior assistant attached to Sekolah Rendah Pekan Tuaran, in Tuaran, under Section 409 of the Penal Code.
The indictment carries a jail term of between two and 20 years and with whipping, and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.
The accused was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of embezzling the financial assistance allocated under the Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pelajar Miskin (KWAPM) for 2008 involving a sum of RM4,250.
He committed the offence at the school between March 2008 and March 2009.
Othman, who was also found guilty of an alternative charge of dishonestly misusing the said money at the same place also between March 2008 and March 2009, received another six months’ jail.
The charge was framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of between six months and five years and with whipping and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.
The trial judge, who allowed a stay of execution for Othman pending his appeal at the High Court, ordered the jail terms to run concurrently.
Othman, who was represented by counsel P.J Perira, is currently released on RM10,000 bail, with RM5,000 to be deposited with two local sureties, pending his appeal.
Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuting officer Awang Samsul Baharam Bongsu called 21 witnesses to testify against the accused and Othman called three witnesses.
After the decision, the accused, who was said to be accompanied by his brother, was in the courtroom for a long time as he did not want his pictures to be taken by members of the press.
He, however came out later, covered his face with a big envelope, and took cover behind his brother.