KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here acquitted a 47-year-old policeman of eight charges of accepting monthly bribes to protect a company’s business after ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus discharged and acquitted Inspector Liffindy Ziubin without calling for his defence.
Liffindy had been accused of receiving a total of RM4,000 from an individual between December 2020 and October 2021, allegedly accepting RM500 monthly as a reward for protecting the company’s business.
The charges were framed under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the bribe amount upon conviction.
In delivering the decision, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the element that the payments were intended as an inducement or reward in relation to the accused’s official duties.
The court also ordered the return of bail to Liffindy, who is attached to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department at the Tuaran police station.
The prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Wardah Ishhar, called nine witnesses during the trial. Liffindy was represented by Datuk Ram Singh and Prem Elmer.
