KOTA KINABALU: A 50-year-old policeman failed in his appeal at the High Court here against his conviction and sentence of four years’ jail and a RM35,000 fine on two charges of soliciting and accepting bribes to overlook illegal possession of protected animals.
High Court Judge Maslinda @ Linda Mohd Ainal on Monday dismissed Corporal Donni @ Dainel Tinili’s appeal, ruling that there was no reason to interfere with the Sessions Court’s finding that the prosecution had proven the elements under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
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She held that the appellant had failed to raise any reasonable doubt at the close of the defence case and dismissed the appeal on both conviction and sentence, while allowing the prosecution’s cross-appeal for the jail terms to run consecutively.
In ordering consecutive sentences, Maslinda said the offence was rampant, involved public interest, and warranted a punishment reflecting the law, noting that the appellant was a police officer entrusted with public trust.
The court, however, granted Donni a stay of execution pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal, allowing bail of RM10,000 with one surety after considering submissions from both sides and his medical condition.
