36 months’ jail, RM50,000 fine for two counts of bribery

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KUANTAN: A traffic police sergeant was sentenced to 36 months’ jail and RM50,000 fine by the Sessions Court here yesterday after he was found guilty on two counts of bribery.

GUILTY: Mahir Epandi waiting for the court’s decision. — Bernama photo

Judge Noradidah Ahmad handed down the sentence on Mahir Epandi Ahmad after finding that the defence had failed to raise any reasonable doubts on the prosecution’s case.

Mahir Epandi, 48,was charged with accepting RM500 from one Teoh Ting Keong as an inducement that he would not take action against his sand lorries for offences under the Road Transport Act and the Road Traffic Rules 1959.

The offence was committed at the Hotel Seri Malaysia cafe at 5.16pm on July 10 last year.

The second charge was for accepting the same amount of bribe from Teoh for the same purpose and at the same place at 11.20am on Aug 6 last year.

In mitigation, lawyer Syed Azimal Amir Syed Abu Bakar, who represented Mahir Epandi said his client had been with the police since 1979 and had to support a wife and four children.

However, Noradidah said the case was a serious one as it involved a public servant and of public interest.

She, however, allowed a stay of the jail sentence pending an appeal at the High Court. — Bernama