BUTTERWORTH: A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturer has been sentenced to three years in prison and fined RM807,475 by the Sessions Court here for abusing his position in approving his younger brother's company to supply various goods to the university.
Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah meted out the sentence to Prof Badaruddin Mohamed, 57, on Friday (Aug 19) while his younger brother Mustafa Kamal, 50, also received the same punishment for abetting him.
The court reached its verdict after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt at the end of the prosecution's case against the nine charges faced by the siblings.
Zulhazmi also ordered the duo to be jailed for six months if they failed to pay the fine.
However, the court allowed the application for a stay of execution of the sentence pending an appeal.
The brothers also had their passports impounded by the court and ordered to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office every month pending disposal of their appeals.
On Oct 30, 2018, Badarruddin was charged with nine counts of abuse of power to obtain gratification for Mustafa Kamal; the first seven by abusing his position as USM communications strategic office director by approving his brother’s company Syarikat MK Urusniaga (M) Sdn Bhd to supply various items and souvenirs totaling RM153,793 to the USM communications strategic office between Sept 23, 2011 and Nov 23, 2012.
For the eighth and ninth charges, he was accused of using his position as USM Sustainable Tourism Research Cluster (STRC) chief to approve Mustafa Kamal’s company to supply 30 units of glass souvenirs worth RM3,450 and office biometric equipment worth RM2,920 between Sept 5, 2011 and May 14, 2012.
For all nine counts, Badaruddin was charged under sub-section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009 while Mustafa Kamal was charged with nine counts of abetting his brother under Section 28 (1) (c) of the same Act.
Earlier, MACC prosecuting officer Mohamad Azlan Basri urged for a deterrent sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offence.
The brothers' counsel Shamsul Sulaiman urged the court not to impose a heavy sentence as his clients had families to support. – Bernama