Former technician claims trial to RM54,000 bribery charge

KOTA KINABALU: A former Land Office technician has claimed trial to soliciting a RM54,000 bribe in exchange for processing applications under a government land scheme in Sabah’s east coast district of Kunak.

Smith A. Lewas @ Simon, 56, was accused of asking for the money from one Goefle Joseph in May 2016 to process 27 land lots under the SPPKMB Kunak scheme.

The alleged offence took place at a private studio in Kunak, where Smith was serving as an assistant survey technician.

He was charged under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 at the Tawau Special Corruption Court on Wednesday (July 2).

The charge carries a maximum 20-year jail sentence and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

In a separate case, 62-year-old retired administrative assistant Lusiwoi Kisa, formerly with the enforcement division of the Land and Survey Department in Kota Kinabalu, also pleaded not guilty to a bribery charge under the same law.

He was accused of attempting to solicit RM12,000 from one Cornilius Jomol @ Terence in June 2016 in Lahad Datu to survey 16 lots under the Madai Baturong smallholders’ scheme, despite the applicants not having eligible land at the time.

Judge Jason Juga granted Smith bail at RM10,000 with RM3,000 to be deposited, and Lusiwoi RM6,000 with RM2,000 deposited.

Both accused were ordered to report to the MACC Lahad Datu office every two months.

They were also prohibited from contacting prosecution witnesses and had to surrender their passports to the court.

The court fixed Sept 11 for mention and submission of case documents in both matters, under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.