USM officer jailed a day for RM135,000 abuse of power

USM officer jailed a day for RM135,000 abuse of power

Zurina Abdul Hamid, 44, changes plea to guilty and is slapped with a RM25,000 fine.

The accused was charged with obtaining gratification for herself by issuing delivery orders and invoices to TZP Venture worth RM135,445.90. (Gambar Reuters)
GEORGE TOWN:
A Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) officer, who was last year charged with 52 counts of abuse of power, was sentenced to one day in jail and a RM25,000 fine after changing her plea to “guilty” at the sessions court in Butterworth, today.

Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid said failure to pay the fine will see Zurina Abdul Hamid, 44, face a further six months in jail.

Zurina was represented by Meharaj Selvarajoo and RSN Rayer.

The sports and recreational centre administrative assistant officer was charged in September 2020 with obtaining gratification for herself by issuing delivery orders and invoices to TZP Venture from Dec 31, 2013 to Dec 15, 2017 amounting to RM135,445.90.

The items purchased included stationery, paint and sporting goods for the sports centre.

On Sept 28, Zurina had claimed trial to the charges, which were split into four cases, under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, for using her position as an officer of a public body to seek gratification.

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