A former special officer to an ex-cabinet minister was sentenced to two years’ jail and fined RM400,000, in default a year’s jail, by the Sessions Court in Shah Alam today for corruption, involving RM80,000.

Judge Rozilah Salleh handed down the sentence on Zailan Jauhari, 48, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubts against the prosecution’s case.

The submission by the defence was found not honest, totally unacceptable and merely a denial, she said.

Zailan was alleged to have accepted gratification, in the form of RM20,000 and in a cheque for RM60,000, for helping two companies to obtain tenders for school cleaning works in the Kuala Selangor district.

He was charged with committing the offence at a restaurant in Kuala Selangor between 7.30 pm and 8 pm on Jan 8, 2014.

The charge was made under Section 16)(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 of the same law, which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine not less than five times the amount of gratification involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

However, Rozilah allowed a stay of the sentence following an application by lawyer Md Yunos Shariff , representing Zailan, to appeal the case at the High Court, but on the condition that Zailan paid the fine, as well as filed the appeal today.

She also increased Zailan’s bail from RM30,000 to RM50,000 in one surety.

In mitigation, Mohd Yunos said his client, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, only had a part-time job and had a wife and three children, aged six to 11 to support.

He said Zailan also had no previous record and was remorse.

DPP Mohammed Heikal Ismail from the MACC prosecuted.

- Bernama