SHAH ALAM, Nov 23 — Former Kuala Lumpur Drainage and Irrigation Department director, Datuk Abu Bakar Mohd Yusof was today sentenced to 26 months’ jail and fined RM133,326.40 after he was found guilty of accepting bribes in the form of hotel accommodation and RM20,000 cash from a company proprietor between 2014 and 2015.
Judge Rozilah Salleh also sentenced the department’s former draughtsman, Mohd Nasir Mohd Isa, to 42 months’ jail and fined him RM222,500 for accepting bribes in the form of hotel accommodation and RM40,500 cash from the same proprietor.
She passed the sentence after the testimony of the defence witnesses failed to cast any reasonable doubt on the prosecution’s case and in fact, had strengthened its case on the whole.
“Based on the accused’s health and age factors, I feel sympathy (for him) but this is a very serious offence. Corruption is a crime, of which we don’t see who the victims are.
“It is justice in this present world and I’ve made my decision based on the testimony of the witnesses. I hope if you live long enough, you won’t do it (offence) again as you will be judged more scrupulously (in the hereafter) if it’s not thorough enough here (in this world).
“I hope this sentence will make you remorseful and serve as a lesson for us all so that Allah will forgive our sins,” the judge said.
Rozilah ordered Abu Bakar, 63, be given another 26 months’ jail and Mohd Nasir, 47, another 42 months, if they failed to pay the fines.
She, however, allowed the defence’s application for a stay of execution of the jail sentences on the condition that the two accused filed a notice by 3pm today, the latest, besides increasing the bail for Abu Bakar to RM36,000 and to RM44,000 for Mohd Nasir.
Abu Bakar was charged with receiving a bribe in the form of accommodation worth RM2,097.28 at a hotel in Sepang, Selangor and another worth RM4,568 at a hotel in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan, besides the RM20,000 cash together with Mohd Nasir.
Mohd Nasir was charged with receiving bribes in the form of hotel accommodation worth RM2,674.80 at the two hotels, RM10,500 and RM10,000 in cash, as well as the RM20,000 together with Abu Bakar.
All the bribes received from Warna Generasi Sdn Bhd owner, Mazlan Jamaluddin were as inducement to appoint the company to carry out contract works at the Batu Dam area and for the company to retain those works.
The two men were charged with committing the offences at several locations in the Klang Valley and Port Dickson between Nov 29, 2014 and June 14, 2015. The charges under Section 24 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, provide for a jail sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
During the case hearing with 19 prosecution and three defence witnesses called including the two accused, acting for the MACC was DPP Mohammed Heikal Ismail, while lawyers Fozi Addhwa Mohamad Fozi and Ainur Azalia Ayoub represented the accused. — Bernama
