The Magistrate's Court has fixed June 22 for the further mention of an embezzlement case, while remitting the case for sentencing by the Intermediate Court, as it comes under the High Court's jurisdiction.

The forty-nine-year-old defendent, Junaidi bin Haji Duraman, an officer at the Zakat Fitrah Collection and Distribution Unit in the Belait District, pleaded guilty last week to embezzling more than B$11,000 in Zakat funds.

On November 6, 2010, an appointed Amil at the Kampong Pandan Mosque submitted a Zakat payment list and B$11,707.40 to Junaidi.

However, Junaidi failed to pay the 1/6 amount in sum from the collected funds to the Amil, who then lodged a complaint at the Zakat Fitrah Collection and Distribution Unit, after not receiving payment up to July 5, 2011.

Subsequent investigations revealed that Junaidi had not deposited the funds into the bank account under the Brunei Islamic Religious Council.

When his superiors questioned him about the missing money, he initially claimed that it was stolen from his unlocked vehicle while he was using a public restroom.

Junaidi was unable to answer why he did not immediately file a police report, and asked instead for a grace period to return the missing amount, which he failed to meet.

Senior Magistrate Lailatul Zubaidah Hussain presided over the mention of the case yesterday.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Rozaimah Abdul Rahman presented the prosecution's case.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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