By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Dec 7: A 37-year-old man pleaded guilty at the Special Corruptions Court here for offering bribes amounting to RM20,000 to enforcement officers from the 12th Batallion General Operations Force (GOF) Miri last year (2020).
He was subsequently fined RM15,000 in default of six months imprisonment.
Judge Steve Ritikos meted out the fine on Tuesday.
The accused was charged under Section 17b of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and Section 214 of the Penal Code for the offence, of which the latter was offered as an alternative charge.
Ting Huong Nging, was charged for offering bribes totaling RM20,000 to 11 GOF Miri officers on Aug 26 last year during an operation conducted at a house in Jalan Maigold Golden Royal Villa around 1pm after they found various types of smuggled alcoholic beverages and cigarettes inside a store behind the house.
According to the facts of the case , the GOF officers carried out an inspection inside the premises and found the alcoholic beverages and cigarettes believed to be smuggled, which is an offence under the Customs Act 1967.
They also discovered an old van parked in front of the store room believed to be used to transport the smuggled liquors and cigarettes.
The facts also stated that the accused had begged the GOF officers not to take any further action against him and as a consideration, he offered them the cash as a bribe.
Despite being warned, the accused had insisted that the officers take the money and in return not take any legal action against him.
He was then detained by the GOF and handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
State MACC prosecuting officer Kamsiah Ahmad prosecuted, while Ting was unrepresented. — DayakDaily
