IPOH: An Ipoh City Council town planning unit assistant officer has been fined RM3,000 in default one month in jail at the Sessions Court here after being found guilty of soliciting money from a business owner.
Syed Nazarudin Syed Mohamed Taib, 53, pleaded guilty after the charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code was read before Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi here on Monday (April 20).
The accused was said to have accepted RM2,000 from one Chong Yin Mei as a payment to extend the period to vacate her landscaping business premises in Taman Merdeka from two months to one year on Aug 22, 2024, at about 5.30pm.
Chong was said to have been investigated by Syed Nazarudin for some renovations at her premises that were made without a planning permit.
According to the facts of the case, Syed Nazarudin, together with a colleague, Muhammad Naili Abdul Radzi, had on Aug 12, 2024, went to the premises for an investigation.
On the same day at about 12.30pm, the accused contacted Chong, asking her to come to the city council headquarters to meet up over the investigation of her premises.
Om Aug 15, Syed Nazarudin went to the premises to inform Chong to issue a notice to vacate the place within two months or face a fine.
The accused told Chong that he could extend the period to six months but she was required to pay RM2,000.
On Aug 21 at about 5.30pm, the accused visited Chong again to solicit for the payment to extend the period to a year, while noting that no actions would be taken during the period.
On Aug 22, Chong lodged a report at the Perak Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters on the matter.
Syed Nazarudin, who was not represented, had requested to be fined RM3,000 after pleading guilty.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer G. Nanthini prosecuted.
