Bakery operator gets prison, fine for offering bribe
KUCHING: The operator of a bakery factory was sentenced to a day in prison and fined RM10,000, in default two months in jail, for giving a RM1,500 bribe to an enforcement officer of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ( KPDNKK).
Sessions Court judge Nixon Kennedy Kumbong meted out the sentence on Phang Tze Sin, 41, after he pleaded guilty to the charge yesterday.
Phang committed the offence at Suria Ceria Industry Sdn Bhd Jalan Stakan Melayu, Stakan Jaya Factory at about 12.30pm on Dec 21 last year.
The money was an inducement for the officer not to take legal action against him for possession of controlled items namely sugar, cooking oil and flour without a valid permit. It is an offence under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
The offence under Section 17( b) of the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) Act 2009 provides for a jail term up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount of bribe received or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
MACC prosecution officer Katherine Nais urged for an appropriate sentence, given the nature of the offence, public interest and seriousness of the crime committed.
Phang was among five persons charged in court for graft on separate occasions.
The other four accused Ting Heng Chuong, 50, Ling Mee Liong, 61, Eng Chong Kok, 40, and Ngu Ho Woon, 58, claimed trial to the charge framed against them.
They were released on bail until further mention of their case.
Ting and Ngu each allegedly gave RM2,000 to a senior State Immigration Department as an inducement not to take action against their foreign worker who was suspected of not having a valid working permit.
Ling and Eng were jointly charged with offering RM15,000 in bribe to a senior officer of the State Immigration Department. All the accused were unrepresented.
MACC officer Mohd Asri Abu Mansor prosecuted.
The five were among 15 persons charged in courts nationwide yesterday for offering bribes as part of the commission’s ‘AntiCorruption Revolution Movement’ ( Gerah) campaign launched on Monday.