A police corporal in Terengganu is fined RM4,000 for accepting bribes to avoid detaining drug suspects, with the court urging personal reflection.
KUALA TERENGGANU: A police corporal was fined RM4,000 by the Sessions Court for accepting bribes as an inducement not to detain suspects in narcotics cases.
Judge Mohd Azhar Othman sentenced Azizol Affendi Rusli, 36, after he pleaded guilty to three alternative charges.
He was fined RM2,000 for the first charge, carrying a default sentence of two months’ imprisonment.
For the second and third charges, he was fined RM1,000 on each count, with a default of one month’s imprisonment per unpaid fine.
The allegations concern three separate incidents in 2023 and 2024.
On Dec 12, 2023, he allegedly accepted RM800 from a woman, transferred to his wife’s bank account, as an inducement not to detain her daughter.
Subsequently, on March 17 and April 9, 2024, he allegedly accepted RM200 and RM150, respectively, from a woman as inducements not to detain her husband.
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 has since paid the fines imposed.
The prosecution was led by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s deputy public prosecutor, Rabiatul Addawiah Mohd Noorlee.
She urged the court to impose a substantial sentence to deter the accused and reflect the gravity of breaching public trust.
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.
He also stated he was managing his own health issues, including diabetes and stage-one kidney disease.
Before delivering the sentence, Judge Mohd Azhar advised the policeman to reflect on his actions.
The judge urged him to henceforth conduct himself as a responsible citizen dedicated to his faith, community and nation.
