Three cops to enter defence in RM18,000 bribery cases

KOTA KINABALU: Three police officers, including a woman, were ordered by the Sessions Court here yesterday to enter their defence on June 24-26 for separate bribery charges involving a total of RM18,000.

Judge Abu Bakar Manat made the order on Elly Boniface Siew @ Siu Anak Tugok, 39, Mohd Fa'iz Mohd Yusof, 33, and Liza Ambau, 40, after he ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against all the accused persons on the said charges.

In his reserved ruling, he said the prosecution had called in 25 witnesses and produced 37 exhibits. He also said witnesses gave credible statements during trial.

Police Corporal Elly, Inspector Mohd Fa'iz and Corporal Liza were alleged to have solicited bribes of RM6,000 and RM3,000 cash respectively from one Wong Kian Shung at the Crimes and Narcotics Investigation Department in Penampang around 11pm to 12am on April 8, 2016.

The money was an inducement for police personnel not to take action against one Dahlia Andreas, who had her urine analysis tested positive for drugs.

The offences were framed under Section 16 (a) (B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and is punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification which is the subject matter of the offence, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Mohd Fa'iz was also charged with two counts of obtaining bribes of RM1,000 and RM2,000 cash from one Zaleha Brahim as an inducement for him not to take legal action against one Rinsiah Labik, who was also tested positive for drugs in her urine analysis.

The alleged offences were committed at a car park near a restaurant in Donggongon Town, Penampang about 12pm to 10 pm between February 9 and 10, 2016.

For the offences, he was charged under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.

Counsel Luke Ressa Balang, who acted for all the accused persons informed the court that his clients wished to give sworn statements.

All of the accused persons who were from the Penampang police station Anti-Narcotics Department is currently released on bail with Elly bailed at RM15,000 with RM5,000 deposited while Mohd Fa'iz and Liza were released on RM10,000 bail each with RM5,000 to be deposited in a local surety.