Bandar Seri Begawan - A customs officer with the Royal Customs and Excise Department attached to the Preventive Section at Sungai Tujoh Customs Control Post, Ahmad bin Hj Sahari, was convicted after trial before the Magistrate's Court, Bandar Seri Begawan on two counts of corruption offence under Section 6 (a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chap 131) and two counts of public servant obtaining a valuable thing, without consideration, from a person concerned in proceeding by such public servant, offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code (Chap 22), said a press release from Anti-Corruption Bureau yesterday.

Deputy Public Prosecutor, Pg Nina Jasmine binti Pg Laila Kanun Di Raja Pg Hj Bahrin, informed the Court that the investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed that the defendant, sometime in the month of December 2008, and also on January 19 2009, at about 2pm in the vicinity of the car park near Mastercon Complex, Jalan Pandan, Kuala Belait, did corruptly accept gratification worth B$300 and B$400 respectively, from one Teoh Ting Keong (Malaysian) as an inducement or reward for forbearing to do an act in relation to his principal's affairs, to wit, to take action against the said Teoh Ting Keong for committing offences under the Customs Order 2006 relating to fuel smuggling activities.

The Senior Magistrate Muhammed Faisal bin Pehin Datu Juragan Laila Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Kefli convicted the defendant to 18 months imprisonment each for the first and third charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chap 131), 10 months imprisonment each for the second and fourth charges under the Penal Code (Chap 22). Senior Magistrate ordered for the first and second charges to run concurrently while the third and fourth charges are also to run concurrently.

The first and second charges are to run consecutively with the third and fourth charges, giving a totality of 36 months imprisonment, with effect from August 30, 2012.

The trial was conducted by DPP Pg Jasmine bind Pg Hj Bahrin.