KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer was jailed two years and fined RM25,000 for offering a
bribe to a Deputy Public Prosecutor to reduce a drug possession charge against
his client.
While in the dock yesterday, lawyer P. Vijian, 44, clasped his hands behind him
and appeared calm.
In his decision, Sessions Court Judge Akhtar Tahir said he found that the
prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
“As for the finding of facts, I believe the testimony of the complainant
(prosecutor). The finding of facts is that there was an offer made by the
accused to the complainant. He is guilty of the offence as per the charge,” he
said.
Vijian is accused of offering a RM5,000 bribe to DPP Fahmi Abd Moin at the
Sessions Court 1 in Jalan Raja here between 11.30am and noon on Aug 7, 2002.
In sentencing him, Justice Akhtar said he had taken into account the seriousness
of the offence, public interest and the need for a deterrent sentence.
“I cannot agree with the defence counsel that it is not pre-mediated,” he said.
However, Justice Akhtar granted a stay of the jail term pending the outcome of
an appeal application later in the day by defence counsel D.P. Vijandran.
He also increased Vijian’s bail from the present RM5,000 to RM20,000 in one
surety and told him to surrender his passport.
The judge ordered Vijian to pay his fine and ordered the bribe money to be
forfeited.
Pleading for leniency earlier, Vijandran said his client was a first offender,
the sole provider for his wife and three young children and that Vijian was
truly remorseful.
“He has led an exemplary public life. He takes part in many charitable
organisations, organises classes for poor children and carries out religious
activities,” Vijandran said.
“This conviction has serious repercussions on his life as a lawyer and his
livelihood. It is a serious punishment for him,” he contended.
Prosecuting officer Azuan Adzhar, however, pressed for a deterrent sentence,
saying that the accused should know the consequences of his actions and the need
to curb corruption.
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