By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Dec 14: The Sessions Court here sentenced a fishmonger to a fine of RM5,000 for attempting to bribe a police officer not to take action against his friend who is suspected of storing contraband cigarettes and beer.
Chin Hock Kong was charged at Sessions Court here today and he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Sessions Court Judge Nixon Kennedy Kumbong accepted his plea of guilty and sentenced him to a fine of RM5,000 or in default to five months’ imprisonment.
He allegedly gave gratification of RM3,000 to a police officer, ASP Mohd Mazlan Mohd Ariff to conceal an offence against him for suspected to have committed an offence under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs At 1967.
He was charged under Section17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and alternatively under Section 214 of the Penal Code.
According to the brief facts of the case, the police team led by Mohd Mazlan had conducted a raid on two different premises on July 13, in Bau.
At about 1.20pm, the police arrived at the first premise and upon inspection by the team, police found there were cartons of cigarettes and beer suspected to be undeclared.
The accused then met Mohd Mazlan and introduced himself as a friend of the premise owner and failed to serve any customs documents on the cigarettes and beer found.
At about 2pm, the team then moved to the second premise in Bau and found suspected undeclared beer and liquor, where the accused failed to serve related documents for the beer and liquor found.
While the police were on their way back to the second premise after the police had confiscated the beer and cigarettes from the first premise, the accused in a Hilux gave cash notes to Mohd Mazlan.
Mohd Mazlan refused to take the money and reminded the accused that he did not ask for money, but the accused insisted to give for the officer to forbear from taking legal action against him.
An undercover MACC officer witnessed this and arrested the accused at the second premise.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Nisla Abd Latif prosecuted while the accused is represented by counsel Lim Lian Kee. — DayakDaily
