Former RMN officer pleads guilty to corruption, fined RM100k

IPOH: A former Royal Malaysian Navy officer pleaded guilty to six counts of corruption of receiving cash and a watch totalling more then RM1.5 million relating to the procurement of naval assets and parts at the Sessions Court here today.
He changed his plea before judge S. Indra Nehru following a plea bargain made between the prosecution and the counsel.
The prosecution was lead by Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) DPPs Amer Abu Bakar Abdullah and Mahadi Abdul Jumaat while the accused was represented by Norhasham Hassan and and Shahril Adli Zain.
Indra Nehru fined Lieutenant Commander Khairul Izwan Mohd Khair (pix) RM100,000 after he changed his plea.
He was a former Material Control 2 officer of the Naval Fleet Supply Depot in Lumut. The case and judgement were heard on camera.
She also ordered the forfeiture of the cash and watch.
Khairul Izwan, 37, was charged on Sept 9 last year, under Section 165 of the Penal Code which involves a public servant obtaining any valuable thing, without consideration, from person concerned in any proceeding or business transacted by such public servant If found guilty, he could face a jail term for up to two years, a fine or both.
Khairul Izwan was charged with five counts of alleged corrupt practices involving RM1.5 million given by a supplier including a bank debit card worth RM100,000 between May 2013 and February 2015.
On Sept 14, last year he was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with receiving a Bell & Ross watch worth RM19,000 from a contractor in Kuala Lumpur.
The case was later transferred to the Ipoh Sessions Court.
Khairul Azmie was the first personnel among four officers including a husband and wife to plead guilty after they were charged for graft involving millions last year.
On March 9 and 11 last year, 16 suspects, including six navy personnel, businessmen and middlemen, were arrested by MACC in Kuala Lumpur, Manjung, Ipoh and Lumut for alleged corrupt practices.
The naval officers hold the rank of commanding officer, lieutenant commander, naval lieutenant and senior aircraftman.
Investigations were conducted under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLATFA) and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.