KUALA LUMPUR – A former military intelligence head was today fined RM70,000 in default of nine months’ jail by the sessions court here for accepting bribes amounting to RM60,000 last year.
Judge Suzana Hussin meted out the sentence to Lt Gen (Rtd) Datuk Sheikh Mokhsin Sheikh Hassan, 60, who is former director-general of the Defence Intelligence Division at the Defence Ministry, after he changed his plea to guilty during case mention.
On the first count, he was fined RM55,000 in default of six months’ jail, and on an optional charge, he was fined RM15,000 in default of three months’ jail.
Sheikh Mokhsin paid the fines.
The court also ordered the money seized in the case to be forfeited to the government, as per Section 40 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Sheikh Mokhsin was charged with receiving a valuable item worth RM10,000 in the form of a service for himself, paid by a director of a military equipment and software supply company, despite knowing that the individual is related to his official duties.
On the optional charge, he was accused of accepting RM50,000 in cash for himself from the same individual.
Both offences were committed in a hotel room in Langkawi and at Sheikh Mokhsin’s office at the Defence Ministry in Jalan Padang Tembak here, between June 21 and 26 last year.
The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Sheikh Mokhsin was alleged to have received the said service during an Op Benteng visit to Langkawi.
The service and cash were received in connection with the supply of drones from the company in question.
Defence lawyer Datuk Mohd Shahrom Mohamad requested a fine without imprisonment, on the grounds that his client has repented and voluntarily entered a guilty plea.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Siti Norhafizan Zakaria objected, and asked the court to impose a heavier penalty as a deterrent. – Bernama, May 6, 2021
