Police DSP jailed two years, fined RM25k for asking for bribe

KOTA KINABALU: A senior police officer was jailed two years and fined RM25,000 or five months’ jail in default after he was found guilty of asking for RM20,000 from a woman in connection with a cheating case in 2016.

Mohd Mahyudin Abdullah (pic), who held the rank of Deputy Supt at the time, was found guilty of asking for a bribe of RM20,000 from Josepin J. Langkan as inducement to not take action against her under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

The offence took place between 9pm and 10.30pm on June 15,2016, at a car park at the Mini Café and Bar in Lorong Austral, Taman Ridgeview, here.

Mahyudin was convicted under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and fine of five times the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.

However, Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat discharged and acquitted Mahyudin from two other charges of receiving and agreeing to receive bribes from the same person.

He was freed from the second charge of receiving a RM5,000 bribe from Josepin for the same purpose on June 15 and 18,2016, at a car park in front of the Resource Centre Kolej Yayasan Sabah, here.

On the third count, Mohd Mahyudin was also freed from the charge of agreeing to receive RM500 from Josepin for the same purpose between 9pm and 10.30pm on June 15,2016, at a car park at the Mini Café and Bar in Lorong Austral, Taman Ridgeview, here.

The court allowed for Mahyudin’s application to stay execution of the sentence pending appeal to the High Court against the sentence but he was ordered to add RM3,000 on his previous bail, which should be paid by Dec 21 (Monday).

Counsel Chin Tek Ming asked for a lenient sentence and stated that Mahyudin had served the police force for 26 years and had numerous achievements.

Chin said Mahyudin had no previous convictions and had four children to look after.

Prosecuting officer Clementine Severinus from MACC pressed for a deterrent sentence on the grounds that Mahyudin had tarnished the name of the police by committing the offence.

Clementine said the sentence should be a lesson not only to Mahyudin but others.