SHAH ALAM: The High Court has deferred the decision on the appeal of former Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement director Kapt (Rtd) Abdul Kudus Ahmad to July 23 to hear further submissions. Judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa fixed the date and told deputy public prosecutor Fariza Hamzah of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and defence counsels Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi and M. Manoharan that he needed time to go over the appeal records.
The court was supposed to decide on the appeal on Monday. "There are many issues that need clarification. Further submissions are needed to assist the court (in making a decision). "Based on submissions, I may decide on that day (July 23) or if need be, I'll decide on the nearest date," he said.
On June 30 last year, Abdul Kudus was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months jail and fined RM370,000 on 24 counts of bribery involving RM59,000 by the Ampang Sessions Court. If Abdul Kudus, 46, fails to settle the fines, he will serve an additional 17 years jail in default. He was granted a stay of execution pending appeal but his bail was increased from RM80,000 to RM150,000 in one surety. Abdul Kudus was found guilty of 22 counts of accepting bribes ranging from RM1,000 to RM12,000 on several occasions from restaurant owner Steven @ S. Sathiasilan at various locations here and in Selangor between May 2001 and May 2003. The money was said to have been given to Abdul Kudus as an inducement to withdraw a notice of licence cancellation and closure of business, and to not take action against Steven for placing chairs and tables on the road in front of his restaurant. Abdul Kudus was also found guilty of two counts of soliciting bribes from Steven during the same period.
A total of 12 prosecution witnesses and 12 defence witnesses testified in the corruption trial. Abdul Kudus testified under oath on May 24, 2006.
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