By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Dec 7: A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) staff member was fined RM8,000 in default three months’ jail by the Sessions Court here today for accepting bribes amounting to RM5,000.
Zuraini Yahaya, 45, ranked Bintara Muda Maritime (Grade T6), pleaded guilty before Judge Steve Ritikos to the charge framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
According to the facts of the case, the accused was charged with receiving bribes from an individual with a ‘Datuk Sri’ title while serving at Tanjung Sedili (Johor) and responsible for carrying out patrol duties within administrative areas of the waters of east Johor between April 1, 2020 until February 17 this year.
The accused was a Second Buffer on Kapal Maritim (KM) Mulia.
Among the accused’s responsibilities as a Second Buffer was to inspect vessels in the straits of Johor to ensure that the vessels complied with the laws and regulations enforced by the government of Malaysia and also to conduct regular patrolling.
It was stated that the bribes were offered to the accused in return for not carrying out inspections on vessels belonging to the ‘Datuk Sri’.
If the accused agreed to the offer, he would be paid on a monthly basis by the ‘Dato’ Sri’.
The accused took up the offer.
Based on the transactions since May 2020 until December 2020, the accused had received RM5,000 in total from the ‘Dato Sri’ via online transactions into his bank account.
Zuraini was not represented by counsel, while deputy public prosecutor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Nur Nisla Abdul Latif prosecuted. — DayakDaily
