​A local male, Seruji bin Haji Setia, aged 52, has been convicted today of five offences under Section 165 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22. The defendant was charged on 2nd March 2023 after investigations by the Anti-Corruption Bureau was concluded. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed trial.

The prosecution called 21 witnesses and adduced evidence that the defendant, a Senior Chief Immigration Officer at the Department of Immigration and National Registration, Ministry of Home Affairs, had received without consideration, $100 from a manager of an employment agency who is connected with his official function as the Head of Work Pass Section. In addition, the defendant had on several occasions between 2021 and 2022, obtained without payment other valuable items, namely, three rolls of carpets with an estimated value of $1,420, five rolls of carpets worth $1,344, sofa cushion covers with an estimated value of $650 and car seat cushion covers from Daiecharm Décor Sdn Bhd, who is connected with the official function of the defendant being the Head of Work Pass Section at the said department. The Defendant was found guilty on all charges after trial before the Honorable Senior Magistrate Hjh Azrimah binti Hj Abdul Rahman. The prosecution of this case was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hjh Rozaimah binti Hj Abdul Rahman and the defendant was represented by Defence Counsel Ahmad Basuni bin Hj Abbas. The court had set for further mention of this case on 19th October 2024 for both counsels to submit on mitigation and sentencing.

Meanwhile, an Indian national, Balagurunathan Jayaraman, Defendant, 51-year-old, appeared before the Magistrates Court, Bandar Seri Begawan today, and pleaded not guilty to an offence under Section 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131. The charge was brought against the defendant, who is one of the directors of a private limited company, called Sri Guru Sendirian Berhad, after the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a report from the Department of Labour, Ministry of Home Affairs, concerning the defendant who had corruptly given a Labour Inspector $50 on 5th October 2022 as a reward to expedite the process of the defendant's foreign workers license application for his company. Appearing for the prosecution is Prosecuting Officer Tiah Teck Chiun and the defendant is not represented. The Magistrate has fixed 28th October 2024 to fix hearing dates for this case. The defendant is ordered to be remanded at Maraburong Prison for not being able to raise bail or secure 2 local sureties.

Source:
RTB NEWS

by RTB NEWS

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