Ex-DO claims trail to bribing staff's husband

Former Seberang Perai Tengah district officer (DO) Roslan Yahaya has claimed trial to the charge of bribing the husband of a woman he had been accused of molesting in January this year.

Roslan had allegedly tried to bribe one Adle Ismail, 38, with RM30,000 in Restaurant Makbul, Seberang Jaya in Penang on Jan 3, this year, to get the latter’s wife, 29-year-old Noramiza Azmee to withdraw her allegation of him outraging her modesty.

He was alleged to have handed over the money through one Shukri Hamid, 41, at the Restaurant Makbul at about 10.30pm that day.

Roslan was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, which carries a punishment of a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe.

Sessions Judge Meor Sulaiman Ahmad Tarmizi fixed bail at RM15,000 with one surety, and fixed Aug 29 as the next mention date.

DPP Janariah Abdul Mutalib had earlier asked for bail to be set at RM30,000, citing the high profile nature of the case, and public interest.

However, Roslan's lawyer A Antonysamy mitigated for a lower bail as his client had given his "full cooperation" to the case.

In April, Roslan was charged with using criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of Noramiza, who was his staff at the time.

Roslan was alleged to have committed the act on April 26, 2010, at his office on Jalan Betek, Sungai Rambai.

He claimed trial to the charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code. The case is ongoing in the Bukit Mertajam's Magistrate Court.

If convicted, Roslan will face up to 10 years in jail and or whipping or both, however, since he is past the age of 50, it is likely that he would be spared the whipping.

It is learnt that Roslan has been transfered to Putrajaya.