KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court upheld a lower court's decision to acquit former Customs senior assistant director Zameri Ibrahim of deceiving a Customs officer with a forged document on the supply of digital cameras.
Judge Kamardin Hashim also upheld the acquittal of a former salesman of Central Management Catalogue Agency (CMCA), Abdul Razak Md Ali, of conspiring with Zameri for the same purpose.
Kamardin made the decision after rejecting an appeal by the prosecution against the Sessions Court's decision on May 9 last year to free Zameri and Abdul Razak from the charge.
He said the appeal by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had no merit.
"The court found that the Sessions Court judge had made an apt finding based on the evidence and there is no mistake. The appeal is rejected," he said.
On May 9 last year, Sessions judge Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain both accused without calling for their defence against the charges.
On Dec 13, 2012, Zameri allegedly deceived senior assistant director Yaacob Mohd Shafie who approved the payment at the revenue management branch of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department Headquarters in Putrajaya, a document dated July 25, 2006 which contained false particulars.
In the document, the accused proposed the supply of 40 units of digital cameras costing RM9,000 a unit which cost a total RM360,000 from CMCA.
However, the actual type of the cameras supplied were Sony DSC-H5 costing RM6,000 or a total RM240,000, which had confused Mohd Shafie.
Abdul Razak was charged with abetting Zameri for the same purpose. They allegedly committed the offence at the Prevention Division, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, on Sept 11, 2006.
The charge under Section 11 (C) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1997, punishable under Section 16 of the same act provides for up to 20 years jail and fine of not less than five times the amount or value of bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Zameri was represented by counsel Ariff Azami Hussein while Abdul Razak Hussein was represented by lawyer Md Ridzuan Othman. - Bernama
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