ALOR STAR: The High Court here upheld a 16-year jail sentence and RM20,000 fine against a 58-year-old policeman for soliciting and accepting a bribe six years ago.
Judge Chan Jit Lin today upheld the judgement after she dismissed Corporal Sazali Hashim's appeal against his conviction and sentencing.
Sazali, on July 25, 2017, was found guilty on two counts of soliciting and accepting a bribe involving RM150 from a man on Oct 18, 2012.
He was sentenced to eight years jail and RM10,000 fine.
Judged Azhar Mokhtar when meted the decision ordered the jail sentence to run concurrently.
In the first case, Sazali who was attached at Kuah police station in Langkawi was charged with asking RM150 from Mohd Asri Bulat at a roadblock at Jalan Batu Asah between 11am and 12pm on Oct 18, 2012.
The bribe was as an inducement for him to not take action against Mohd Asri for allegedly having ketum water in his possession and for the return of his identification card.
On another count, Sazali was charged with accepting RM150 from Mohd Asri for the return of his identification card at 7pm the same day at a restaurant in Kuah.
He was found guilty of committing the offence under Section 16(b) and Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption (MACC) Act 2009 which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and a fine five times the bribe amount or RM10,000 or whichever higher.
MACC deputy public prosecutor A. Hafiizh Abu Bakar prosecuted while Sazali was represented by lawyer Datuk Naran Singh.