Businessman jailed one day, fined RM15,000 for offering bribe to Perhilitan officer

KUALA TERENGGANU: A businessman was sentenced to a day's jail and fined RM15,000 for bribing an assistant officer from the state Forestry Department (Perhilitan).
Chow Kwee Chai, 48, pleaded guilty before Judge Mohd Haldar Abd Aziz at the Sessions Court here yesterday for offering a RM2,000 bribe as an "incentive" to avoid taking action against one of his lorries transporting timber which was found on the side of the road in Kemaman on June 2017.
The timber also did not bear the necessary stamp duties, in accordance with Section 68 of the National Forestry Act 1984 and is seen as an attempt to avoid paying taxes.
He was charged with violating Section 17(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissions Act for offering the bribe.
Mohd Haldar sentenced Chow to a day in prison starting from Tuesday and a RM15,000 fine since it was Chow's first offence. The accused will spend another six months in prison if he fails to pay the fine.
Chow paid the fine.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ameer Abu Bakar Abdullah prosecuted while Chow was represented by lawyers Farhan Read and PG Cyril.