Kota Kinabalu: The High Court yesterday affirmed the sentence of seven years' imprisonment and RM30,000 fine imposed on an ex-court staff who was convicted with three counts of corruption in relation with late birth certificates early this year.

Judge Chew Soo Ho made the decision yesterday after dismissing the appeal brought by Jinny Daniul, 30, against her conviction.

Chew among others held that there was no reason for the court to interfere the decision arrived by the lower court.

The Sessions Court had on Jan 21 sentenced Jinny to a total of seven years' imprisonments and fined her a total of RM30,000 after she was found guilty of three main charges.

For receiving RM50 from one Maslina Abd Sali as an inducement for her proceed a late registration birth application of Sitti Aini without undergoing any trial before a magistrate, Jinny received to two years' jail plus RM10, 000 fine in default, six months' jail.

The offence was committed between November 2010 and Dec 17, 2010 at the court house here.

For the second and third amended charges, the court sentenced her to two years and six months' imprisonments plus RM10,000 in default, six months' jail for each charge.

The second and third amended charge stated that Jinny had received RM100 from Hon Sun Wan in return for getting a stamp and court endorsement for a late registration of birth documents for Jennifer Hon and Hon Yi Mei respectively on June 15, 2010 at the court house.

The court also ordered the jail term to run consecutively with effect from the date of conviction on Jan 21.

All the charges were framed under Sections 16(a)(B) and 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC) 2009 which provides imprisonment of up to 20 years and RM10,000 or five times the bribe sum, whichever is higher.

Jinny was also facing three alternative charges of forging the signature of the magistrate on three birth certificates for the purpose of cheating at the same place.

Each charge is framed under Section 468 of the Penal Code which is punishable by a jail term of up to seven years and shall also liable to a fine.

The trial commenced on Oct 16, last year and seventeen witnesses were called to testify.

Counsel Bobby Tan acted for Jinny while deputy public prosecutor Joyce Blasius appeared for the respondent.