KUALA TERENGGANU: A police koperal has been fined RM4,000 by the Sessions Court here for accepting bribes as an inducement not to detain suspects in drug cases.
Judge Mohd Azhar Othman sentenced Azizol Affendi Rusli, 36, after he pleaded guilty to three alternative charges on Wednesday (Jan 28).
He was fined RM2,000 in default two months' jail for the first charge.
For the second and third charges, he was fined RM1,000 each in default one month's jail.
The charges involve three separate incidents.
On Dec 12, 2023, he was accused of accepting RM800 from a woman, transferred to his wife's bank account in Jerteh, as an inducement not to detain her daughter in a narcotics case.
Subsequently, on March 17 and April 9, 2024, he allegedly accepted RM200 and RM150 respectively from a woman into his own bank account in Jerteh, as inducements not to detain her husband, also a drug suspect.
The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Azizol, who was unrepresented, paid the fines.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Rabiatul Addawiah Mohd Noorlee urged the court to impose a substantial and commensurate sentence, arguing that it was necessary both to deter the accused and to reflect the gravity of breaching the integrity expected of a public servant.
Mitigating on his own behalf, Azizol pleaded for leniency, citing difficult personal circumstances.
He said he was the sole provider for his school-aged children and caregiver to his ailing mother, while also managing his own health issues, including diabetes and kidney disease.
Before delivering the sentence, judge Mohd Azhar advised the accused to reflect on his actions and henceforth conduct himself as a responsible citizen dedicated to his faith, community and nation. – Bernama
