Long arm of the law: Two cops jailed five years after bribery bid
The two policemen were first charged at the Sessions Court in August 2014 after their arrest, but were released without having to defend themselves.
SHAH ALAM: Two policemen have been sentenced to two years in prison and fines of RM30,000 each for soliciting bribes to release a wanted man who was in possession of a smuggled car nearly five years ago.
L/Kpl Joe Stephen, 31, and Kons Mohd Farid Che Aziz, 33, were found guilty of soliciting RM6,000 as an inducement to release one Lee Yong Hock at 4.30am on April 3, 2012 at the Pandamaran police station’s car park.
The two policemen were first charged at the Sessions Court in August 2014 after their arrest, but were released without having to defend themselves.
The prosecution then appealed at the High Court here, and the two men were told to enter their defence in December last year.
Two defence witnesses have been questioned since.
Sessions Court judge Asmadi Hussin said the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
During mitigation, counsel V. Rajehgopal pleaded for a lighter punishment, saying his clients have families to provide for.
However, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Mohammed Heikal Ismail requested a deterrent sentence, saying this was in accordance with MACC's vision to abolish corruption among public servants within two years.
Judge Asmadi then sentenced the duo to two years’ jail and a RM30,000 fine in default of six months’ jail.
Rajehgopal requested a stay of execution until the appeal process is completed.
Judge Asmadi granted the application and set bail at RM20,000 each.
He also ordered the two men to report to the Selangor MACC office once a month
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/13/long-arm-of-the-law-two-cops-jailed-five-years-after-bribery-bid/#X8d2qhDcYUO5K8W6.99
