KUANTAN: Former Temerloh OCPD Supt Mohd Azhar Mohd Yusoff has been sentenced to eight months' jail on 46 corruption charges involving RM69,600 received between 2019 and 2023.
Sessions judge Sazlina Safie found Azhar, 56, guilty on Wednesday (Oct 21) of the offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
The Section provides for a maximum jail term of two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The judge sentenced Azhar to eight months' jail on each charge and ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
However, she allowed his application for a stay of execution of the sentence, set bail at RM30,000 with one surety, and ordered him to surrender his passport pending further proceedings.
Earlier, Azhar’s lawyer Datuk M. Athimulan sought a fine without imprisonment, arguing that the conviction carried serious implications for his client, including possible dismissal from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the loss of pension rights.
"He also stands to lose his career, reputation and social standing. That in itself is a severe form of punishment for him.
"The accused has a clean public service record, with no criminal record or disciplinary action throughout his 33 years of service with PDRM," he submitted.
However, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Radzi Shah Abd Razak sought a heavy sentence of imprisonment and a high fine, taking into account the accused's position as a senior police officer and the seriousness of the offences.
He said the accused had abused his position as Temerloh OCPD by accepting money from certain parties, thereby undermining public trust in civil servants.
"This conduct has the potential to erode public trust in the civil service, particularly PDRM, and tarnish the image of civil servants as a whole," he asserted.
On June 29 last year, the court ordered Azhar to enter his defence on all 46 charges. – Bernama
