Three fined, jailed for giving bribes

KUCHING: Two eatery operators and a car wash operator were sentenced to between seven and 10 days in prison and fined between RM10,000 and RM27,000 by the Sessions Court here yesterday for giving bribes.

Judge Nixon Kennedy Kumbong ordered them to serve another two months behind bars if they were unable to pay the fine.

The gratification was offered as an inducement to the Immigration officer not to take legal action on their foreign workers under the Immigration Act 1953/63.

An eatery operator Lee Wei Luk, 25, who pleaded guilty to offering RM2,000- bribe, was sentenced to seven days’ jail and fined RM10,000 for committing the offence about 5.50pm on Nov 15 last year at Seventeen Food Corner in Siburan.

Pang Kong Joo, 37, a coffeeshop owner, was sentenced to eight days in prison and fined RM10,000 for offering gratification amounting to RM2,000.

The offence was committed on No 22 last year at a shop in Mile 13, Kuching- Serian Road. He was represented by defence counsel Lim Lian Kee.

Meanwhile, Ng Hong Lee, a car wash operator, received the highest fine RM27,000 and sentenced to 10 days in prison for giving RM5,400 in bribe.

He committed the offence about 6pm on Nov 11 last year at a shop in Jalan Tai Shin Jar here.

The judge ordered all the sentences to take effect immediately.

They were charged under Section 17( b) of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Act 2009 read together with Section 28(1)(a) of the same Act.