RM20,000 bribe: Cop is jailed

Kota Kinabalu: A senior police officer was jailed two years and fined RM25,000 or five months’ jail after he was found guilty of asking for RM20,000 bribe from a woman.

However, Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat discharged and acquitted Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohd Mahyudin Abdullah from the other two charges of receiving and agreeing to receive bribes from the same person.

On the first count, Mohd Mahyudin was found guilty of asking for a bribe of RM20,000 from one Josepin J. Langkan as inducement to not take action against her under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

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The crime took place between 9pm and 10.30pm on June 15, 2016 at a car park at the Mini Café and Bar in Lorong Austral, Taman Ridgeview, here.

Mohd Mahyudin had convicted under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and fine of five times the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.

He was freed from the second count of receiving a RM5,000 bribe from Josepin for the same purpose on June 15 and 18, 2016 at a car park in front of the Resource Centre Kolej Yayasan Sabah, here.

On the third count, Mohd Mahyudin was also freed from the charge of agreeing to receive RM500 from Josepin for the same purpose between 9pm and 10.30pm on June 15, 2016 at a car park at the Mini Café and Bar in Lorong Austral, Taman Ridgeview, here.

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The court allowed Mohd Mahyudin’s application to stay execution of the sentence pending appeal to the High Court against the sentence but ordered to add RM3,000 on his previous bail which should be paid by Dec 21 (Monday).

During mitigation, counsel Chin Tek Ming who was assisted by Zul Hamri, representing Mohd Mahyudin, asked for lenient sentence saying that his client had served the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for 26 years and received numerous achievements.

Chin said Mohd Mahyudin had no previous convictions and has four children to look after.

However, Prosecuting Officer Clementine Severinus from MACC urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the grounds that Mohd Mahyudin had tarnished the PDRM’s name by committing the offence.

Clementine said the sentence should give lesson not only to Mohd Mahyudin but other would be offender. Nineteen witnesses were called during the hearing.