Saturday, 23 July 2022
Bandar Seri Begawan – A male Bruneian national, Mohd Shah Nurul Ridzuan bin Hj Maiddin (the "Defendant"), aged 33, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge for an offence under section 165 Penal Code, Chapter 22 for obtaining a sum of money without consideration or with consideration which is inadequate from a person who is connected with his official function as a public officer.
Investigations conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed that the Defendant, who at the time of the commission of the offence was a public servant, a Grade 2 Staff Officer at the Finance Unit, Building and Maintenance Section of Ministry of Religious Affairs, had obtained money in the sum of B$1,000 placed inside an envelope from a contractor of a company which was carrying out a housing related project at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which is connected to the defendant's official function as the officer in charge of processing the payment for such work. It was further revealed that the said contractor had told the Defendant to convert some of the cash to gift vouchers in order to be given to other employees of the Finance Unit of the Building and Maintenance Section of the said Ministry.
Subsequently, from the B$1,000, the Defendant admitted to have taken B$500 for himself for his personal use whilst the remainder of the money is used by the defendant to purchase Hua Ho Department Store Gift Vouchers, which he had given to his colleagues and former girlfriend.
The contractor in this case is also charged for giving the said $1000 to the defendant but had pleaded not guilty to the offence and is awaiting for trial to be heard against him.
Today, the Honorable Senior Magistrate Harnita Zelda Skinner imposed a sentence of 12 months imprisonment against the defendant after giving consideration to the defendant's guilty plea.
The prosecution of this case was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah Rozaimah binti Haji Abdul Rahman. Appearing for the Defendant is, Mr Sheikh Noordin Sheikh Mohammad.
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