C
Cao Pi
Guest
Aug 19, 2010
Jail, fine for 'coffee money'
JOHOR BARU - A SINGAPOREAN businessman was fined RM15,000 (S$6,400) and sentenced to a day in jail by the Sessions Court here after he pleaded guilty to offering a bribe to a traffic policeman. Ong Peoy Kuan, 61, offered a RM100 bribe to Kons Muhammad Hafiz Aziz near the Lima Kedai toll plaza at about 5pm on May 30 to not take action against him for exceeding the speed limit. Ong offered the bribe as Kons Muhammad Hafiz was about to issue a summons.
The offence under Section 17 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 is punishable with up to 20 years' imprisonment or a fine of not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher. In mitigation, Ong's lawyer G.K. Sritharan said the accused was a first-time offender and was suffering from kidney disease as well as diabetes.
'He has deeply regretted his actions and has fully repented,' he said. 'He has saved the court's time and expenses by admitting to the charge.' DPP Abdul Ghafar Abdul Latiff argued for the maximum sentence to be imposed, saying that offering a bribe to a civil servant was a very serious offence. Ong paid the fine. -- THE STAR/ANN
