MELAKA: Two policemen have been fined RM3,000 each by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to accepting a bribe of RM2,500.
Sjn Zaini Abu, 59, and Kpl Zulfiza Abas, 38, entered their plea before judge Elesabet Paya Wan.
They were charged with accepting the cash as an inducement for not taking action against Muhammad Azhar Khairuddin, 40, for harbouring two illegal foreign workers.
The offence was committed at the Jasin toll area at 10.52pm on May 13 last year.
Both accused, who were serving at the Jasin district police headquarters, were charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code.
A conviction under this section carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Fatin Nur Athirah Zainudin pressed for an appropriate sentence to act as a deterrent to others.
In mitigation, lawyer Mohd Ishak Mohd Kari said that Sjn Zaini was due to retire next year and was still supporting two children in school.
Kpl Zulfiza, on the other hand, was caring for his aged parents, a child and a wife who suffers from epilepsy.
The court imposed a fine of RM3,000 on each accused, with a five-month jail term if they failed to pay. Both accused paid the fines.