A former Senior Chief Immigration Officer has been sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment after being convicted of two charges of corruptly attempting to obtain BND1,500 in connection with an Entry Permit application.
Mohammad Shukran bin Haji Jaidin, 52, was convicted by Magistrate Harnita Zelda Skinner on June 8, following a trial in Criminal Trial No. 1159 of 2020.
The charges arose from attempts made on March 17, 2020 and April 22, 2020, awhen Shukran, who was serving as a Senior Chief Immigration Officer at the Entry Permit Section of the Immigration and National Registration Department, was alleged to have sought BND1,500 as an inducement in relation to the extension of an Entry Permit.
The Court found that the Prosecution had proved all essential elements of both offences beyond reasonable doubt, including that Shukran was an agent, had attempted to obtain gratification, and had acted with corrupt intent.
The Prosecution relied, among other evidence, on audio recordings of telephone conversations between Shukran and the complainant, together with evidence concerning a signed Entry Permit approval document which was subsequently found hidden in Shukran’s drawer.
The Court found the complainant to be a credible witness and accepted the audio recordings as corroborating his evidence. The Court also drew a strong adverse inference from Shukran’s decision to remain silent during the trial.
Shukran was convicted on both charges under Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on each charge, with a four-month reduction on each sentence in consideration of delay, resulting in 14 months’ imprisonment on each charge. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
The custodial sentence was ordered to commence on August 15, the date on which the sentence was passed.
The case was prosecuted by Prosecuting Officer Shamsuddin Haji Kamaluddin, while Shukran was represented by Defence Counsel Zamri Taha of Messrs Zamri Taha Associates.