BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, August 9, 2010
The former Bruneian diplomat to Indonesia, Hj Yakib Hj Juman, accused of accepting bribes from employment agents in Indonesia will have his verdict read out by the Magistrates’ Court today.
Hj Yakib, who was the Third Secretary (Counsellor) at the Brunei Embassy in Jakarta, has been charged with corruption after he allegedly accepted bribes from four Indonesian agents sometime between June and December in 2006 at the embassy. On separate occasions, Hj Yakib worked with employment agents, Zetira Anas Nazar and Asroh Sukaeni, both freelance agents and Awab Abdullah Toyib from PT Fortunatam Insani agency, to issue employment visas.
It was alleged that Hj Yakib received a total of Rupiah 1,248,50,000 ($27,329.10) for assisting the employment agents.
Hj Yakib faces 13 counts of charges under Section (a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 121) and 13 counts of charges under Section 165 of Penal Code (Chapter 22).
Hj Yakib’s judgment on July 31, was adjourned as his defence counsel, Sheikh Nordin was not present during the hearing as he was performing the Umrah.
Standing in for Sheikh Nordin during the proceedings was Defence Counsel Christopher Sawan.
The presiding judge, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court Pg Rostaina Pg Hj Duraman, is expected to deliver a 100-page verdict on the case.
If found guilty, Hj Yakib faces a jail term of seven years and a fine of $30,000 for each charge.
Under the Penal Code, the defendant could land with a jail term which may exceed seven years and an unspecified amount of fine. Currently, Hj Yakib is out on a $10,000 bail with two local sureties and his passport has been impounded by the ACB.
The Brunei Times
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