TAWAU: An education officer was sentenced to four months’ jail and fined RM15,000, in default six months’ jail, on Wednesday for receiving RM5,000 in cash from a contractor six years ago.
Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga sentenced Abdul Samad Amara, 48, after finding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Abdul Samad was found guilty of receiving the RM5,000 from a company owner inside a Perodua Myvi at Taman Univila here on Sept 11, 2020.
The money was linked to his official duties as Head of the Infrastructure and Development Unit at the Tawau District Education Office (PPD), involving repair and maintenance works at SK Balung Tawau worth RM223,247 that had been awarded to the company.
He was convicted under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, or a fine, or both upon conviction.
In mitigation, his lawyer Muhammad Abdul Karim urged the court to give his client a second chance and impose a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
He said Abdul Samad was a first-time offender, had shown remorse and had three school-going children who depended on him.
Muhammad also told the court that Abdul Samad had received a training award from the Education Ministry to pursue his studies up to PhD level and had twice received the Excellent Service Award, in 2013 and 2018.
However, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah prosecuting officer Norsham Saharom urged the court to impose both a jail term and fine, taking into consideration that the case had gone through a full trial.
The court allowed Abdul Samad’s application to stay the execution of the jail sentence but ordered him to pay the RM15,000 fine on Wednesday.
