MELAKA, March 21 — A former government officer was sentenced to 18 months’ jail and fined RM25,000, in default 12 months’ jail, by the Sessions Court here today for accepting bribe of RM5,000 about three years ago.
Judge Ahmad Sazali Omar handed down the sentence after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against Lilyhanah Abdul Salam, 31.
In the judgment, he said the defence by the accused was merely a denial.
“Her testimony that she was just following orders from another accused was merely a denial as the SMS (short messaging service) between them clearly showed that the accused knew and was jointly involved,” he added.
Another individual was charged with abetting her, but the person had pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced in 2012.
Lilyhanah, then a contract officer with the post of assistant director at the Land Acquisition Unit of the Melaka Land and Mines Department, was charged with receiving the bribe from one Tee Seng Hoo, through a middleman by the name of Toh Meng Leng, as gratification to avoid Lee’s land at Mukim Sungai Udang from being acquired.
The offence was committed in front of Cheng Maybank branch at about 10.35pm on Aug 8, 2011.
The charge, under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, provides a jail term for up to 20 years and fine of not more than RM10,000, on conviction.
In mitigation, Lilyhanah’s lawyer, Damian Yeo, said his client had been sacked from her job and had no previous record.
However, following an application by Lilyhanah, through her lawyer, Damian Yeo, the court allowed a stay of the jail sentence pending an appeal, but she was ordered to pay the fine.
Earlier during mitigation, Yeo said his client had been sacked from her job and had no previous record.
Prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohammed Heikal Ismail. — Bernama
