Latest news with #SiaJooHoe
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Former clerk claims trial to graft charge over unlicensed business
JOHOR BARU: A former clark pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to offering a RM2,000 bribe to a city council officer three years ago. Sia Joo Hoe, 58, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail. She is accused of giving the money to Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) enforcement assistant Abu Hassan Othman, 37, as an inducement for him not to take action against her for operating an unlicensed furniture business. The alleged offence took place at the MBIP enforcement department in Jalan Medini Sentral 9, Iskandar Puteri, at about 9am on Aug 30, 2022. At the time, Sia was employed as a clerk at a furniture shop. The charge was framed under Section 214 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to one-quarter of the maximum term prescribed for the principal offence, a fine, or both, upon conviction. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Rais Adha Ramli proposed bail of RM10,000. However, defence counsel Chuah Shyue Chien objected, stating that his client had cooperated fully with MACC since the investigation began in 2022. "My client lives with her husband in Johor Baru, cares for her nine-month-old grandchild, and currently relies on financial support from her children. She is prepared to post bail of RM5,000," he said. The court allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed June 18 for mention and document submission.
The Star
14-05-2025
- The Star
Woman claims trial to bribing Iskandar Puteri City Council officer
JOHOR BARU: A 58-year-old woman has been charged at the Sessions Court here with bribing a local council personnel to avoid getting into trouble for operating without a business licence. The accused Sia Joo Hoe pleaded not guilty to handing RM2,000 to an Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) enforcement assistant at around 9am on Aug 30, 2022. She said she understood the charge after it was read before Sessions Judge Ahmad Kamal Ariffin Ismail on Wednesday (May 14). Sia, who was working as a furniture store clerk at the time, was said to have bribed the enforcement personnel as an inducement to avoid action for operating an unlicensed business. Operating without a business licence is an offence under the MBIP Licence, Trade, Businesses and Industrial Bylaw 2018, which is punishable with a fine of not more than RM2,000 or a jail term of not more than one year, or both upon conviction. The bribery offence was framed under Section 214 of the Penal Code for offering gratification in consideration of concealing an offence. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuting officer Rais Adha Ramli offered bail at RM10,000. Sia's lawyer Chuah Shyue Chien asked the court for a bail of RM5,000, saying that the woman has retired and is taking care of her nine-month-old grandchild. Ahmad Kamal Ariffin allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety. The court also set June 18 for next mention and submission of documents.
