KUALA LUMPUR: A heavily pregnant policewoman broke down and sobbed in court today after the High Court sentenced her to two years's jail and fined her RM20,000 in default eight months jail, for bribery.
In sentencing Inspector Suriati Mohd Shafie, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Ab Karim Ab Rahman said corruption is a serious offence which can erode the integrity of an institution and also a nation.
"Corruption can also destroy any organisation including the Royal Malaysian Police and also a nation if it is allowed to fester. You are a police inspector who is supposed to look after the enforcement of the law and have committed a serious offence."
Suriati was found guilty of corruption by the High Court, after the prosecution had appealed against her and that of Assistant Superintendent S. Ravintharan's acquittal by the Sessions Court.
Ravintharan was also ordered by Ab Karim, to enter his defence on the bribery charge.
On Sept 9, 2013, Suriati, 35, and Ravintharan, 56, had claimed trial to agreeing to take a RM4,000 bribe from Nurullizean Yahya to free her robbery suspect husband Tchouanseu Tchounga Arman, a Cameroon national.
They were jointly charged with committing the offence at the office of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Brickfields district police headquarters between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, on Jan 22.
Suriati was acquitted by the Sessions Court, after her defence was called and Ravintharan, at the end of the prosecution's case.
Ab Karim also ordered Suriati, who was acquitted of another charge of soliciting RM6,000 from Nurullizean for the same purpose at the same place, at noon on Jan 22, to enter her defence.
Immediately after sentencing, counsel G.S. Nair, applied for a stay of execution for Suriati, in the jail term, which he allowed.
Ravintharan was represented by Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent while Nor Azah Kasran appeared for the appellant.