SHAH ALAM: A Sessions Court judge today reprimanded a policeman, declaring him unfit to wear the force's uniform after he accepted a RM16,000 bribe to close a document forgery case two years ago.
Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud sentenced Corporal Azrol Khalil, 39, to three years in jail, saying he had abused his position.
"The accused is a policeman who committed a criminal breach of trust in his duties. He threatened the victim into paying the bribe.
"This was done because the accused is a policeman. Given his actions, he is unfit to wear the police uniform," the judge said when handing down the sentence.
Awang Kerisnada also imposed a RM80,000 fine on Azrol, in default one year's imprisonment.
He also ordered the RM16,000, used to trap Azrol, be returned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The judge said his decision was based on public interest, stressing the need to eliminate corruption and restore trust in civil servants.
However, the court granted Azrol a stay of execution on his sentence following an application by his defence lawyer, P.G. Cyril.
The judge increased the bail sum to RM10,000 from RM8,000, ordering it to be paid by tomorrow, and required that the notice for the stay of execution be filed by then.
Earlier, MACC prosecuting officer Mohd Aliff Shaharuzaman emphasised the need for the court to take a strong stance against corruption.
"The charge was successfully proven after a three-year trial. The court is the only avenue to hold corrupt individuals accountable and its decisions send a clear message to the public, deterring them from engaging in such crimes," he said.
"This is in line with ongoing efforts to combat corruption.The accused misused the names of senior officers to commit corruption, tarnishing the reputation of the force."
In mitigation, Cyril pleaded for a lenient sentence, noting that Azrol had no prior offences and was his family's sole breadwinner.
"He has been suspended from work and is receiving half of his monthly RM2,700 salary.He relies on this income to support his wife and children."
In May 2022, Azrol, who was then with the Gombak district police headquarters' Commercial Crime Investigation Division, claimed trial to accepting the money from a 50-year-old man as an inducement to close a case under investigation.
The offence was allegedly committed at a restaurant in Taman Prima, Batu Caves, Gombak, on Feb 7, 2022.
The charge under Section 16 (a) (B) of the MACC Act 2009 carries a 20-year jail term and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.