Ex-MMEA director jailed for accepting RM10,000 bribe

The Star

3 days ago

JOHOR BARU: A former Tanjung Sedili Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director has been sentenced to 20 months' jail for accepting a RM10,000 bribe some five years ago.
Sessions Court judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail handed down the sentence, effective immediately, after finding that the prosecution had proven its case against Mohd Zulfadli Nayan, 44.
'After hearing and weighing all the evidence, the court finds that the accused has failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case,' he said yesterday.
The case was prosecuted by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong while lawyer Mohd Fazaly Ali Mohd Ghazali represented the accused.
Earlier during mitigation, Mohd Fazaly Ali asked the court to impose punishment in the form of fines.
He said if the court were to impose a jail sentence, it should be at the minimum, citing Mohd Zulfadli's health issues including gout, chronic migraine and gastric problems that require ongoing medication.
'My client currently works as an e-hailing driver and wireman, earning between RM2,000 and RM3,000 per month to support his family, which includes four children, aged between three and 11,' he said.
Meanwhile, Lim urged the court to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the offence.
'As a senior federal officer, the accused was responsible for upholding the law and ensuring maritime safety.
'However, he instead accepted a bribe from a shipping agent, which is clearly against his duties and this has tarnished the image of MMEA,' he said.
Following the sentencing, Mohd Fazaly Ali applied for a stay but the court rejected the application.
On May 23, 2021, the accused contested the charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine or both.
According to the charge sheet, he accepted the money from the shipping company owner at a restaurant in Jalan Yahya Awal on Oct 2, 2020.
He was accused of using his position to avoid taking action in the investigation of a vessel owned by the company, which was detained by Tanjung Sedili MMEA on Sept 17, 2020.