The accused, Chow Kwee Chai, 48, was charged with offering a RM2,000 bribe to Forestry Department officer Ilias Awang as an inducement for not taking action against him for placing a lorry, laden with timber, without paying relevant tax, at the roadside around Kemaman.
Chow was accused of committing the offence at 12.30 am, in Mukim Bijai, Kemaman, on June 9 last year.
Based on the facts of the case, Ilias had carried out an inspection on the lorry laden with timber that was parked at the roadside in Kemaman.
Upon inspection, it was found that the lorry was carrying the timber without paying the tax under the National Forestry Act 1984.
Chow admitted that he was the lorry owner and had offered a RM2,000 bribe to Ilias as an inducement for not taking action against him for committing the offence.
Chow was then arrested under Section 17 (b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694), punishable under Section 24 of the same Act.
It provides a maximum jail sentence of 20 years and a minimum fine of RM10,000 or five times the bribe amount, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Judge Mohd Haldar Abd Aziz then jailed Chow for a day and ordered him to pay a RM15,000 fine, in default of six months’ jail if he failed to pay the fine.
The accused, represented by counsel Farhan Read, paid the fine.