Two individuals were charged in the Bandar Seri Begawan Magistrates Court yesterday for offences committed in contravention to the Prevention of the Corruption Act Chapter 131 and the Penal Code Chapter 22.

A former Grade 2 Staff Officer at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Mohd Shah Nurul Ridzuan bin Hj Maiddin, aged 33, was charged under Section 6A of the Prevention of Corruption Act for corruptly accepting a gratification of $1,000 from Houng Yu Kai, a Malaysian, a supervisor of Ari Cando Contractor as an inducement or reward for expediting the payment process works done by the Contractor for the Ministry's project.  Mohd Shah Nurul Ridzuan was also preferred alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code, the offence of whereas a public servant obtaining a valuable thing without consideration namely the sum of $1,000 connected with his duty which is to process the payment.

Meanwhile, Houng Yu Kai, aged 49, was also charged for corruptly giving the gratification under Section 6B of the Prevention of Corruption Act and faced an alternative charge for the offence of abetting with Mohd Shah Nurul Ridzuan by giving him $1,000 to expedite the payment process, an offence under Section 165 read with Section 109 of the Penal Code.  Investigation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau found evidence that on 28th June 2016, to expedite for the process of payment for work "Additional Power Point at Level 2 Housing Unit, Old Building, Ministry of Religious Affairs". Both defendants appeared before the Magistrates Court virtually at the Anti-Corruption Bureau premises as was allowed under Section 7A of the Subordinates Courts Act. Defence Counsel representing Mohd Shah Nurul Ridzuan had applied for a one-month adjournment before entering the plea. Whilst Houng Yu Kai had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Both defendants are released on court bail.

Source:
RTB NEWS

by RTB NEWS

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