The High Court has set Jan 20 to hear the appeal by a former Tabung Haji senior manager against his conviction and sentence for accepting RM170,477 in bribes.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has fixed Jan 20 next year to hear the appeal by a former senior manager of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) against his conviction and sentence of three years’ imprisonment and an RM852,385 fine for accepting RM170,477 in bribes.
Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin set the date during case management involving Zaharuddin Hamid, 53, a former Senior Manager (Technical) of the Real Estate Development Section.
“The parties must file their written submissions on or before Jan 8 next year,” said Judge Noor Ruwena.
Zaharuddin, who was present at today’s proceedings, filed the appeal in November 2023.
According to the three charges, Zaharuddin is accused of corruptly accepting bribes totalling RM170,477 from Yusaidi Mohd through Amaneez Creative Solution, via cheques deposited into a Maybank account belonging to his sister, Zanita Hamid.
The payments were allegedly inducements to recommend Consoline Sdn Bhd and MNB Engineering Sdn Bhd for office renovation works at TH Ipoh (IFiC), Perak, as well as TH Muar, TH Batu Pahat and TH Kluang in Johor.
He is accused of committing the three offences at Maybank Desa Pandan here between Oct 5, 2015 and May 24, 2018.
The charges were brought under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides for a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Earlier, Zaharuddin’s counsel, A. Ashok, informed the court that the defence received the appeal record this morning and applied for a hearing date. Deputy public prosecutor Haresh Prakash Somiah confirmed the matter.
The trial began in 2022, with the prosecution calling 18 witnesses and the defence calling only the accused.
On Nov 30, 2023, Sessions Court Judge Rozina Ayob sentenced Zaharuddin to three years’ imprisonment and an RM852,385 fine after finding him guilty on all three charges.
The court also ordered that he serve 15 months’ imprisonment if he fails to settle the fine.
However, the court granted Zaharuddin a stay of execution of both the imprisonment and the fine pending the outcome of his appeal.
In its grounds of judgment, the court found that the accused’s testimony consisted merely of denials and fabrication, unsupported by any evidence, and held that the defence lacked merit to raise a reasonable doubt.