Ex-Syariah judge to spend Raya Aidilfitri behind bars

PUTRAJAYA: Former Perak Syariah High Court judge Hassan Basri Shafie will spend Hari Raya Aidilfitri behind bars.

Yesterday morning, the Court of Appeal here sentenced him to six years jail for corruption.

The 61-year-old, who lost his final appeal to set aside his conviction for seven corruption charges, was sent to the Kajang Prison to begin his sentence.

The Court of Appeal’s three-member panel chaired by Justice Datuk Wira Mohtaruddin Baki unanimously dismissed Hassan Basri’s appeal on his conviction after finding that the conviction was safe.

The court also maintained the RM210,000 fine imposed on him by the Sessions Court.

Hassan Basri however, succeeded in his appeal to have his jail sentence reduced from 10 years to six.

The panel which also comprised justices Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Datuk Seri Zakaria Sam maintained the jail sentences of between one and five years but ordered Hassan Basri to serve the sentences concurrently, instead of consecutively.

Hassan Basri, who appeared calm when the court delivered the decision, was ordered to begin his sentence from yesterday as he was on bail of RM105,000 in two sureties, pending hearing of his appeal at the Court of Appeal.

He was accused of soliciting and receiving bribes from two persons pertaining to two marriages without following the correct procedure, and for the return of bail monies relating to alcohol consumption and encouraging vice offences at several locations in Perak between Aug 6, 2006 and Aug 15, 2007.

The Sessions Court in Ipoh convicted and sentenced him to 10 years’ jail on the charges on Dec 14, 2010. Hassan Basri lost his appeal at the High Court which upheld the Sessions Court’sdecision. - Bernama