SHAH ALAM, June 27 — The High Court today sentenced Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri, former special officer to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, to two years in prison and two strokes of the whip for cheating the president of Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar five years ago.

Mohd Yahya, 44, was charged with cheating Abdul Karim Munisar, by deceiving him into believing that the Pakatan Rakyat secretariat was seeking sponsors for the party’s 100^th day celebration.   

Judge Datuk Abdul Alim Abdullah meted out the sentence after allowing the prosecution’s appeal against the Sessions Court’s verdict which acquitted and discharged Mohd Yahya, 46, of the charge in May 2011.  

The judge however allowed a stay of execution pending Mohd Yahya’s appeal at the Court of Appeal and set bail at RM15,000 with one surety.   

On May 20 2011, Sessions Court Judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh had acquitted and discharged Mohd Yahya on the basis that the prosecution had failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.  

Mohd Yahya faced a further charge of inducing Abdul Karim to hand over RM50,000 in sponsorship for the event at the Gardenia Coffee House, Quality Hotel, on June 4, 2008.  

He was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code which carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.  

A total of 28 prosecution witnesses, including Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and eight defence witnesses testified throughout the proceedings. 

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Azah Kasran appeared for the prosecution while Mohd Yahya was represented by lawyer Ahmad Nizam Hamid.  – Bernama