SHAH ALAM: A former construction engineer with Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) was today fined RM177,000 and sentenced to one day's jail after pleading guilty to two corruption charges related to maintenance services worth RM35,217.50.
Mohd Amal M. Razalan, 36, made the guilty plea as he was about to be tried for 46 bribery and money laundering charges before Sessions Judge Datuk Anita Harun.
Anita ordered an 18-months jail sentence if Amal failed to pay the fines and ruled that the remaining offences are to be taken into consideration. (TIC).
In January, Amal claimed trial to 41 charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and five charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) amounting nearly RM9.65 million.
For the 22nd and 26th charges under the MACC Act which he pleaded guilty to, Amal was alleged to have received two cheques worth RM30,718.30 and RM4,499.20 each from a company director on Oct 25,2019 and Jan 20,2020.
He conspired with another company director to obtain gratification for himself for assisting the company to secure the provision of civil and structural maintenance services for PCSB.
He committed the acts at a bank in Bandar Puteri, Puchong on Oct 25,2019 and Jan 20,2020.
The offences comes under Section 16(a) (A) of the MACC Act 2009 read with Section 28 (1)(c) and punishable under Section 24.
It carries a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine not more five times the sum of gratification or RM10,000, whichever higher, for each charge.
During mitigation, counsel Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican, who appeared for Amal, said his client had admitted to the offence of profit sharing with the contractor.
"There were no losses incurred to Petronas or the nation's resources or other parties.
"My client's guilty plea has saved the court's time and he is remorseful.
"I hope the punishment is enough to serve a lesson and he would not be jailed. If he is jailed, I ask for a short period and the fine to be minimum," he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin asked the court to mete out a heavy punishment as deterrent to Amal and society.