Kota Kinabalu: An Assistant District Officer was ordered to enter defence on two charges of abusing her power over food supply tender.
Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga made the order for Monica Gualin, 52, after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against her. The court set July 7-8 this year for Monica’s defence.
On the first and second counts, Monica is accused of using her position to obtain a RM15,000 bribe for herself and a RMRM34,980 bribe for her relative in March 2020 in Kuala Penyu.
The charges stated that she had proposed her relative’s company to obtain the tender to supply food and drinks to the frontliners during the implementation of Movement Control Order of Covid-19 in Kuala Penyu.
The charges under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same Act provide for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times of the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.
Monica, represented by counsel Datuk Norbert Chin, is currently released on bail of RM10,000 with RM5,000 deposited in one local surety. Her counsel told the court that the defence would produce two witnesses, including Monica, for the defence.
During the prosecution stage, 11 witnesses would testify.
