Saleh walks along the court corridor after the sentencing.
KUCHING: A Sessions Court here yesterday sentenced a policeman to 18 months in jail and a RM10,000 fine in default six months’ imprisonment for gratification.
Judge Nixon Kennedy Kumbong meted the sentence on Corporal Saleh Terang, who pleaded guilty to the charge framed against him under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
He committed the offence around 11.09am on Oct 23, 2013 at a bus stop at Ladang Ladong in Simunjan.
Saleh, who headed the Simunjan District police station mobile patrol vehicle (MPV) unit, corruptly accept RM500 from lorry driver Lobson Diliu as an inducement not to take action against Lobson, who allegedly committed an offence under Section 19(1)(b)(vi) of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987.
According to the facts of the case submitted by Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Low Chin How, the accused asked for money from the complainant, who allegedly drove an overloaded vehicle without a valid road tax disc.
In his mitigation, Saleh – not represented by any defence counsel – said he was his family’s sole breadwinner and has many children.
The court rejected his application for a stay of execution pending appeal to the High Court as no special reason given despite no objection from the prosecutor.
The custodial sentence was ordered to take effect immediately.