High Court Upholds Jail Term, Fine On Ex-town And Country Planning Officer

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- The High Court today upheld the jail sentence and fine imposed on a former Town and Country Planning officer at the Besut District Council, who was convicted of accepting bribes six years ago.

Judge Datuk Hassan Ghani dismissed the appeal filed by Zariman Ibrahim, 44, and upheld the two-month jail sentence and a RM10,000 fine, in default of three months in jail if he fails to pay the fine, imposed on him by the Sessions Court here on Aug 17 last year.

Zariman was also ordered to serve his jail sentence starting today.

Previously, Zariman was found guilty under Section 165 of the Penal Code for accepting RM4,500 through his personal account from Nor Hashimi Hassan, knowing the payment was related to his official duties.

The offence was committed on Sept 4, 2018, when he was employed as a civil servant in Grade J41.

The accused’s lawyer, Mohd Zamri Md Jail, appealed for a lighter sentence, suggesting that the prison term be replaced with a fine.

However, deputy public prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) argued that the original sentence was appropriate and should be upheld, serving as a deterrent to others.

-- BERNAMA