A three-man panel comprising Mohd Zawawi Salleh, Zakaria Sam and Badariah Sahamid dismissed Khairuddin Khalid’s appeal to set aside his conviction, the five-year jail term and the RM458,325 fine, in default six months’ jail, for the first charge.
Instead, the panel restored the Sessions Court’s decision in convicting the 57-year-old for three other charges after allowing the prosecution’s appeal to set aside the High Court’s decision in acquitting him on those charges.
Justice Zawawi, who chaired the panel, sentenced Khairuddin to five years’ jail and RM625,000 fine, in default six months’ jail, for the second charge, five years’ jail and RM1.01 million fine, in default 10 months’ jail for the third charge, and five years’ jail and RM416,686.88 fine, in default 10 months’ jail, for the fourth charge.
He, also ordered Khairuddin to serve his jail term concurrently from today.
In his decision, Zawawi said the court found that there was sufficient evidence to support Khairuddin’s conviction on the charges.
Khairuddin was accused of committing the offences at the office of Corporate Eight Asset Management Sdn Bhd in Menara Weld, in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, on May 23, 2001; Sept 4, 2001; Oct 31, 2001; and Feb 8, 2002.
On the first count, Khairuddin was charged with soliciting a bribe of RM91,665 from Corporate Eight Asset Management Sdn Bhd executive chairman Muhammad Khalid Ismail as a fee for Mimos Berhad’s investment in the company.
On the second count, he was charged with soliciting a bribe of RM150,000 from Khalid, of which RM125,000 was for a fee for Mimos Berhad’s investment in the company.
On the third count, Khairuddin was charged with soliciting a bribe of RM295,750 from Khalid, of which RM202,000 was for a fee for Mimos Berhad’s investment in the company and for the fourth count, he was charged with soliciting a bribe of RM447,833 from the same individual, of which RM83,337.37 was for a fee for Mimos Berhad’s investment in the company.
Khairuddin was convicted by the Sessions Court on eight charges but following his appeal, the High Court upheld his conviction for the first charge and acquitted him on the other seven charges. The prosecution today withdrew its appeal against Khairuddin’s acquittal on the other four charges.
Khairuddin was represented by lawyer Shaharudin Ali, while deputy public prosecutor Aslinda Ahad appeared for the prosecution.