By Fadley Faisal
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, OCT 20 – The Magistrate’s Court last Saturday set October 28 as the date for sentencing the 52-year-old senior immigration officer.
Senior Magistrate Azrimah Abdul Rahman made the decision after the prosecution and defense submitted written arguments for the purpose of mitigation and punishment. Seruji bin Haji Setia was found guilty of five offenses under Section 165 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22.
However, the accused was acquitted of another charge under the Prevention of Corruption Act after the prosecution failed to prove the allegation.
He was charged on March 2, 2023, following a thorough investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
During the trial which involved testimony from 21 witnesses, it was revealed that Seruji received a $100 bribe from an employment agency manager in September 2022, related to his position as Head of the Work Pass Division at the Department of Immigration and National Registration.
In addition, between 2021 and 2022, the accused received several valuable items without payment from Daiecharm Decor Sdn Bhd, including three rolls of carpet worth $1,420, five rolls of carpet worth $1,344, sofa cushion covers estimated at $650 and car cushion covers.
The court will also take into account the arguments from Deputy Public Prosecutor Rozaimah Abdul Rahman and the defense lawyer, Ahmad Basuni Abbas, before sentencing.
