KUCHING: The Sessions Court here fined a businessman RM20,000 after pleading guilty to bribing a police officer with the rank of inspector with RM2,000 today (28 Oct) .
This was so that he would not take legal action against his employees who smuggled diesel fuel for sale in December of last year.
Accused Lee Wei Hou, 31, entered the plea in front of Judge Steve Ritikos after an alternate charge was presented against him.
For any failure to pay the fine the offender has to serve six months in default.
According to the charge sheet, he was charged with paying RM2,000 in cash to a Police Officer Inspector Lokman Adli Ihsan in exchange for not prosecuting two of his employees who smuggled diesel oil.
The two accused workers are local residents who committed an offence under Section 20(1) of the Supply Control Statute of 1961 and are subject to punishment under Section 22 of the same act.
He committed the crime between 9.30 am and 10 am on December 8, 2021, at a car workshop on Jalan Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping.
As a result, the accused was prosecuted under Penal Code Section 214, which entails a prison sentence of up to 40 years and a fine, or both.
According to the facts of the case, at around 8 am, a police team from Sarawak Brigade General Operations Team Headquarters’ Risik branch, commanded by the complainant, conducted an undercover operation selling diesel oil.
The complainant observed an SUV and a lorry putting diesel gasoline into a drum at a petrol station on Jalan Stephen Yong around 8.30 am.
Following that, the complainant and his team tracked the vehicle to a workshop on Jalan Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping. Two workers were putting diesel fuel from the car into an intermediate bulk container (IBC) tank when they arrived at the workshop.
Further inspection revealed that several barrels and IBC tanks contained diesel oil, and the individuals in question failed to show any documentation or permissions for Special Scheduled Goods to possess diesel oil.
The complainant then contacted KPDNHEP Kuching, who despatched a team to the scene of the incident to conduct the surrender process and take further action.
Around 9.30 am, the accused, who is the owner of the workshop, arrived at his premises and was inquired about the offence done by him.
He (the accused) then removed something from his car, namely a sum of money, and gave it to the complainant as a bribe to avoid legal action.
But the complainant refused to accept the money and emphasised to the accused that offering bribes to government officials was illegal; yet, the accused insisted on handing the money.
After receiving the money, the complainant went to the Sarawak MACC office to file a report.
As a consequence of the investigation, the accused was found attempting to pay the complainant RM2,000 in exchange for not pursuing legal action under Section 20(1) of the Supply Control Act 1961.
MACC Prosecuting Officer Miller Jawoi handled the prosecution, while MACC Officer Muhammad Zikry Wahid investigated the case.
