KUALA LUMPUR: A former policewoman who accepted a RM6,000 bribe to shut down a molest case has been fined RM8,000 in default of 40 days' jail by the Sessions Court here.
The accused, Nur Mastisha Maidinsha, 39 pleaded guilty to two counts of accepting bribes totalling RM6,000 from the father of a suspect in a sexual offence case.
According to the statement of facts, Nur Mastisha told the man that his son would be charged in court and solicited the bribe and offered to close the case without initiating an investigation.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) then launched a sting operation to catch Nur Mastisha.
She committed the first offence at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters at 8pm on Oct 1, 2022 and the second offence at a petrol station in Cheras at 8.05pm on Oct 12, 2022.
She was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries imprisonment of up to two years, a fine or both.
During sentencing on Monday (May 13), Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin told Nur Mastisha Maidinsha that her actions had also affected other people, including her young children.
Nur Mastisha, a former sergeant with the police's sexual, women and child investigation department, pleaded guilty to the two charges.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Atiqah Mohamad Alias asked the court to impose a RM10,000 fine on the accused as a lesson.
She said the accused had pleaded guilty but this did not mean she was absolved of the crime.
"Corruption has tainted the name of the police and marred its reputation, causing a trust deficit among the people towards the police, a body entrusted to safeguard the country," the DPP said.
During mitigation, Nur Mastisha, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying she had never faced disciplinary nor criminal action throughout her 19 years of service.
"This is my first offence and. I ask for a lower fine as I have to support my children and I have debts of RM4,500 to settle every month. It will not be easy for me to get a new job," she said.
