SHAH ALAM: The owner of a cleansing services company was jailed one day and fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court today for bribing RM3,500 to a Shah Alam City Council staff as inducement for not reporting its shoddy work four years ago.
Mohammad Zaki Jamian, who pleaded guilty to the offence before judge Datuk Anita Harun, had his head bowed throughout the proceedings and made a tearful plea for a lenient sentence as it was his first conviction.
The 44-year-old, who had walked into the dock with a limp on his right leg, told Anita he would not repeat his mistake.
He said he takes care of his wife and children as he is the sole breadwinner in the family.
"I had a stroke two years ago and have to undergo weekly rehabilitation which costs RM350.
"I am earning RM3,500 monthly and I am responsible for various household expenses," he said as he wiped tears off his face.
Anita had also asked Zaki about his leg condition and he replied it was due to the stroke.
Anita, who said she made her decision based on Zaki's health condition, also ordered him to serve six months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
Earlier, prosecuting officer Mohd Alimi Mustapha asked the court to impose a sentence in line with the nature of the serious offence to serve as a lesson to the accused.
The facts of the case read that Zaki, who owns Syarikat Gabungan Selatan Resources, had been given a 36-month sub-contracting works to clean MBSA food stalls in Section 24 from Aug 1, 2020 to July 31 last year.
A council staff acting as supervisor to oversee the works, had explained to Zaki that a Notice To Correct (NTC) will be issued against him if the cleaning works were poor or if there were are public complaints.
From October 2020 to December 2021, Zaki performed six transactions totalling RM3,500 from his company's bank account to the staff as inducement not to issue the NTC for cleaning works claims from September 2020 to November 2021.
Zaki was charged with committing the offence at a bank in Jalan Takal 15/21.
The charge under Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act punishable under Section 24(1) carries a maximum 20-years jail term; a fine not more five times the bribe sum or RM10,000, whichever higher.