KANGAR, Nov 20 – The High Court here today increased the fine imposed on former Kangar Municipal Council (MPK) president Baharudin Ahmad to RM1.925 million while maintaining the four-year jail term for corruption involving RM385,000 and a set of golf clubs valued at RM2,500, in 1999.
Judicial Commissioner Datuk Zamani A. Rahim increased the fine after allowing a petition by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Comission (MACC) to change the previous punishment on him as it was not in line with legal provisions.
On Nov 29, 2006, the Kangar Sessions Court sentenced Baharudin, 51, to four years jail and fined him RM405,000 after finding him guilty of accepting bribes totalling RM387,500 (including the value of the golf set) to facilitate a joint venture between MPK and Sonati Development Sdn Bhd for a housing project in 1999.
Baharudin had appealed to the High Court for the decision to be reviewed but, yesterday, the court rejected the application after finding that the prosecution had made a prima facie case against him.
Meanwhile, on May 2008, the MACC, through Deputy Public Prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff, had applied to the same court to set aside the sentence handed down by the Sessions Court, claiming it was far too lenient compared to punishment provided for under Section 16 of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.
Under the section, the fine should be not less than five times the amount involved in the corruption or a minimum of RM10,000, whichever is higher. Zamani then increased the fine to a total of RM1.925 million for the offences but maintained the jail term.
Baharudin had received the money between February and July 1999 here and in Kuala Lumpur from Nik Mokhtar Nik Hassan, a contractor. He had received the Mizuno golf set from the same person on Oct 27, 1999 in Padang Besar near here. – Bernama
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