KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here yesterday freed a senior education officer from nine corruption charges involving RM199,700.
Judge Ismail Brahim discharged and acquitted Abdul Wahab Ampuan Hamzah, 51, without calling for his defence at the end of the prosecution’s case.
The judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against Abdul Wahab who was represented by counsel Sugumar Balakrisnan.
Abdul Wahab, for the first, second and third charges, had allegedly used his position as the Papar District Education officer to secure tenders for Serasi Jaya Kontractor Enterprise for a RM21,990 project to repair the floor and wall of SK Kambizaan Papar; RM25,900 project to build the canteen at SK Benoni Papar and RM28,980 project to upgrade the offices of the headmaster, senior assistant 1 and 2 and the general office of SK Kaiduan Papar.
On the fourth, fifth and sixth charges, he had allegedly used his position to secure for Syarikat Asbah Enterprise the tenders for a RM19,990 project to paint the external and internal gates of SK Belatik Papar, RM19,990 project to repair the RMT and toilet of SK Kogopon Papar and a RM21,980 tender for Syarikat Supian Jaya Kontraktor to build five toilets at SK Beringgis Papar respectively.
Meanwhile for the seventh, eighth and ninth charges, Abdul Wahab had allegedly used his position to secure a RM19,900 tender for Serasi Jaya Kontraktor Enterprise to upgrade the computer room of SK Lingan Papar; a RM20,980 tender for Syarikat Syarmi Enterprise to build the computer room of SK Mandalipau Papar and RM19,990 tender to build a security hut and upgrade the gate of SK Sabandil Papar respectively.
He had allegedly committed all the offences at the Education Department Office in Papar between March 4 and September 2005.
Each of the charges under Section 15(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997 carries a jail term of between 20 days and 14 years and a fine of up to five times the amount involved. Each of the charges under Section
15(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997, punishable under Section 16 of the same Act provides for a jail term of between 14 days and 20 years and a fine of up to five times the bribe amount or RM10,000 depending on which amount is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor Joyce Blasius who prosecuted, called 16 witnesses to testify against the accused before closing the prosecution’s case.