PUTRAJAYA: Former Perak Syariah High Court judge Hassan Basri Shafie will spend Hari Raya Aidilfitri behind bars.
The Court of Appeal on Wednesday sentenced him to six years jail for corruption.
The 61-year-old who lost his final appeal to set aside his conviction for seven corruption charges was sent to the Kajang Prison to begin his sentence.
The Court of Appeal's three-member panel chaired by Justice Mohtaruddin Baki unanimously dismissed Hassan Basri's appeal on his conviction after finding that the conviction was safe.
The court also maintained the RM210,000 fine imposed on him by the Sessions Court.
Hassan Basri however, succeeded in his appeal to have his jail sentence reduced from 10 years to six.
The panel which also comprised Justices Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Zakaria Sam maintained the jail sentences of between one and five years but ordered Hassan Basri to serve the sentences concurrently, instead of consecutively.
Hassan Basri, who appeared calm when the court delivered the decision, was ordered to begin his sentence from Wednesday as he was on bail of RM105,000 in two sureties, pending hearing of his appeal at the Court of Appeal.
He was accused of soliciting and receiving bribes from two persons pertaining to two marriages without following the correct procedure, and for the return of bail monies relating to alcohol consumption and encouraging vice offences at several locations in Perak between Aug 6, 2006 and Aug 15, 2007.
The Sessions Court in Ipoh convicted and sentenced him to 10 years' jail on the charges on Dec 14, 2010. Hassan Basri lost his appeal at the High Court which upheld the Sessions Court's decision.
He is believed to be the first Syariah judge to be sentenced for corruption.
His counsel, Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi had earlier argued that the charges preferred on his client were defective, as the evidence of witnesses did not fit the particulars in the charge.
Another of Hassan Basri's counsel, Datuk Salehuddin Saidin meanwhile submitted that the jail sentences imposed on him were excessive and urged the court to reduce the sentences.
Deputy public prosecutor Saiful Hazmi Mohd Saad from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission however, asked the court to take into account Hassan Basri's conduct when he had said, "Habislah kena tangkap, minta tolong" ("I am finished as I have been caught, please help") to the arresting officer when he was apprehended. – Bernama
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