Ex-Immigration prosecution chief’s appeal dismissed By Suraini Andokong

KOTA KINABALU: The High Court here dismissed an appeal by a former prosecution unit chief of the State Immigration Department against his jail sentence and fine for two corruption convictions.

Justice Datuk Yew Jen Kie upheld the total of 36 months’ jail and RM60,000 fine imposed on Ag Ku Mohd Shaifful Amp Ag Damit, who was represented by counsel Ram Singh.

Ag Ku Mohd Shaifful was appealing to have his sentence and conviction by the lower court on October 25, 2016, varied.

However, the appellant’s application for a stay of his terms, pending his appeal to the Court of Appeal here was allowed.

The appellant was found guilty of the two charges under Section 17 (a) of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

The charge, which is punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, provides for up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of not less than five times the bribe, or up to RM10,000, whichever is higher.

On the first to the second counts, the appellant received RM10,000 in cash and a threefoot aquarium tank worth RM371, respectively on Oct 16, 2012 from a businessman as inducement not to take any action against the man for employing restaurant workers without proper immigration permits at the State Immigration Department office here.

For the first charge, the appellant was jailed 24 months and fined RM50,000, in default, six months’ jail, while for the second charge, he received another 12 months’ imprisonment and RM10,000 fine, in default, three months’ jail.

The subordinate court had ordered the jail sentences to run consecutively.