Jail, fine for police sergeant in bribery case

The High Court here today allowed an appeal by the prosecution against the acquittal of a police sergeant for bribery, and sentenced the latter to two years' imprisonment.

Justice Kamardin Hashim also imposed a RM10,000 fine or another five months' jail on Ahmad Sazali Md Desa, 55, after finding him guilty of corruptly receiving RM2,000 from a knife factory owner.

The judge in his decision said deputy public prosecutor Aida Adhha Abu Bakar's submission for the appeal had merit.

Nevertheless, the court granted counsel Nik Mohamed Ikhwan Nik Mahamud's application for a stay of the sentence pending an appeal, and set a deposited bail of RM10,000.

On Oct 25, 2011, Ahmad Sazali was initially charged with receiving the bribe as an inducement not to take action against the factory owner and to release his two workers who had been detained under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act.

He was accused of committing the offence at the CID office at Cheras Police headquarters at 12 noon on Nov 30, 2010.

The Sessions Court acquitted him of the charge after ruling that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against him.

A subsequent appeal by the prosecution was dismissed by the High Court, which affirmed the Sessions Court ruling.

The prosecution then brought the case to the Court of Appeal, which allowed the appeal and ordered the accused to enter his defence at the Sessions Court.

The accused was again acquitted by the same Sessions Court on Oct 30, 2013, and the prosecution again filed an appeal to the High Court on Nov 7, 2013.