KUALA LUMPUR — A Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement assistant was fined RM13,000 by the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to five counts of accepting a total of  RM1,200 to protect premises operating using “Ali Baba” licences.

Judge Azura Alwi meted out the fine, in default 21 months in jail, on Syahrul Riza Md Yusof, 42.

He was charged with accepting the money without consideration from an individual whom he knew had a connection with his official duties.

All the offences were committed at the Selayang Market here between 5 pm and midnight, from Dec 27, 2022,  to June 20, 2023.

He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries imprisonment for up to two years or a fine, or both upon conviction.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Irna Julieza Maaras requested the court to impose a deterrent sentence to serve as a lesson to the accused, arguing that his actions in accepting bribes from others had tarnished City Hall’s image and his own reputation.

Syahrul Riza, unrepresented, in his mitigation, told the court that he has a family to support and his wife suffers from a urinary tract infection.

Meanwhile, two other DBKL enforcement assistants Muhammad Syawal Riezqan Jauhar, 28, and Amran Mat Dali, 45, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin to the same charge.

Muhammad Syawal Riezqan was charged with 11 counts of receiving a total of RM4,800 while Amran was charged with receiving RM100 from the same individual for a similar purpose.

The offences were allegedly committed at the same location between Oct 26, 2022,  and Aug 15, 2023.

Suzana allowed Amran and Muhammad Syawal Riezqan bail of RM5,000 and RM6,000 with one surety each, respectively, and also ordered them to surrender their passports to the court and report themselves at the Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office once a month pending disposal of their cases.

The court set Sept 18 for mention of Amran’s case, while the case involving  Muhammad Syawal Riezqan was set for mention on Sept 19. — BERNAMA