By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Oct 22: The Federal Court of Appeal has affirmed the 10 days jail sentence of a businessman convicted for gratification to an agent of the Malaysian government.
The respondent, Eng Chong Kok, was charged together with another accused of an offence under Section 17(b) of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, and be read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
He was convicted and sentenced to an imprisonment of 60 days and a fine of RM75,000 in the Sessions Court. However, in the appeal to the High Court, the imprisonment term was reduced to 10 days and the fine amount was affirmed.
Prosecution appealed against the sentence passed by the High Court at the Court of Appeal here today.
The three-men bench led by Datuk Zaleha Yusof, Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah unanimously dismissed the appeal of the prosecution and affirmed the decision of the High Court.
The respondent was found guilty with another person with common intention to give a gratification; cash money of RM15,000 to an agent of the Malaysian government as an inducement to forbear from taking legal action against the duo for suspected of committing an offence under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act 1967.
The other accused of this case pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court, he was sentenced to imprisonment of 10 days and fined RM75,000.
DPP Mohd Zain Ibrahim represented the prosecution, while the respondent was represented by counsel Lim Heng Choo. — DayakDaily
