KUANTAN, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The Sessions Court today sentenced former Temerloh police chief Supt Mohd Azhar Mohd Yusoff to eight months' jail on 46 corruption charges involving RM69,600 received between 2019 and 2023.
Judge Sazlina Safie found Mohd Azhar, 56, guilty after the prosecution successfully proved all the elements constituting the offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
Section 165 of the Penal Code provides for a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
She imposed an eight-month prison term on each charge and ordered the accused to serve the sentences concurrently.
However, Sazlina allowed Mohd Azhar's application to stay the execution of the sentence, set bail at RM30,000 with one surety, and ordered him to surrender his passport pending further proceedings.
Earlier, Mohd Azhar’s lawyer, Datuk M. Athimulan, sought a fine without imprisonment, arguing that the conviction carried serious implications for his client, including possible dismissal from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the loss of pension rights.
"He also stands to lose his career, reputation and social standing. That in itself is a severe form of punishment for him. The accused has a clean public service record, with no prior criminal record or disciplinary action throughout his 33 years of service with PDRM," he submitted.
However, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Radzi Shah Abd Razak sought a heavy sentence of imprisonment and a high fine, taking into account the accused's position as a senior police officer and the seriousness of the offences.
He said the accused had abused his position as Temerloh police chief by accepting money from certain parties, thereby undermining public trust in civil servants.
"This conduct has the potential to erode public trust in the civil service, particularly PDRM, and tarnish the image of civil servants as a whole," he asserted.
On June 29 last year, the court ordered Mohd Azhar to enter his defence on all 46 charges.
-- BERNAMA