Court of Appeal Upholds Conviction of Former Kuala Lumpur Drainage and Irrigation Department Director
The Court of Appeal has issued a committal warrant on Abu Bakar Mohd Yusof, a former Kuala Lumpur drainage and irrigation department director, to serve his 26-month prison sentence immediately.
Abu Bakar, 74, began serving his sentence today after the Court of Appeal upheld his conviction on three counts of accepting bribes. A three-member bench comprising Justices Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Azman Abdullah, and Azmi Ariffin dismissed Abu Bakar’s final appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Background of the Case
In 2018, the sessions court sentenced Abu Bakar to 26 months in prison and fined him RM133,326.40 after convicting him of accepting bribes, including hotel stays and RM20,000 in cash, from a company proprietor between 2014 and 2015. His appeal to the High Court in 2022 was dismissed, and he has since paid the fine.
Court’s Decision
Azmi, delivering the unanimous decision, ruled that Abu Bakar’s appeal lacked merit and that the evidence against him was overwhelming. The court also found the testimonies of the two prosecution witnesses to be credible, and rejected the defence’s claim that they were accomplices.
The court also dismissed Abu Bakar’s request to serve his jail terms concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 26 months.
Related Case
In a related case, former DID draughtsman Nasir Isa, 53, was found guilty of accepting bribes from the same company. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison and fined RM222,500 by the sessions court. His appeal to the High Court was later withdrawn.
Conclusion
The Court of Appeal’s decision is a significant victory for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and a stern warning to those who engage in corrupt practices. The case serves as a reminder that corruption will not be tolerated and that those who are found guilty will face the consequences.
FAQs
Q: What was Abu Bakar’s sentence?
A: Abu Bakar was sentenced to 26 months in prison and fined RM133,326.40.
Q: What was the nature of the bribes accepted by Abu Bakar?
A: Abu Bakar accepted bribes in the form of hotel stays and RM20,000 in cash from a company proprietor between 2014 and 2015.
Q: What was the outcome of Abu Bakar’s appeal?
A: Abu Bakar’s appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, and he was ordered to begin serving his sentence immediately.
Q: What was the outcome of the related case involving Nasir Isa?
A: Nasir Isa was sentenced to 42 months in prison and fined RM222,500 by the sessions court. His appeal to the High Court was later withdrawn.