Ex-Petronas executive cleared of corruption charge

The Sessions Court in Malaysia acquitted and discharged a former Petronas Dagangan Bhd. executive of a corruption charge without calling for his defense. Judge Rosbiahanim Ariffin handed down the decision after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Abd Jabbar Mohamad, who was then an executive at the operation and supply division of Petronas Dagangan. Abd Jabber was accused of using his position to order Hasim Bidin, the owner of Hassia Sdn Bhd, to buy boxes for lubricant bottles from Geena Enterprise, a company in which Abd Jabbar had an interest. He was charged under Section 15 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 which carried an imprisonment of not less than 14 days and not more than 20 years and a fine of 10,000 ringgit  (US$) or five times the sum or value of the gratification, whichever is higher, upon conviction. (September 29, 2010)