JUDGMENT

Atan Mustaffa Yussof Ahmad J:

Introduction

[1] These are appeals by four police personnel against their convictions and sentences imposed by the Sessions Court (Criminal 1), Johor Bahru, presided over by Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin bin Ismail ("the learned Sessions Court Judge" or "SCJ'). The trial below concerned three charges arising from allegations that the appellants, in furtherance of common intention, corruptly solicited and obtained gratification from a complainant whose drugs had been found during an unrecorded police search at Kangkar Pulai on the night of 10 April 2018, and that the Second Appellant thereafter attempted to obtain a further sum in the early hours of 12 April 2018.

[2] On 13 February 2025, the learned Sessions Court Judge convicted all four appellants on the First Charge (soliciting RM7,000.00) and on the Second Charge (obtaining RM1,600.00), both read with s 34 of the Penal Code. The Second Appellant was additionally convicted on a Third Charge of attempting to obtain RM1,400.00 by himself. All four were sentenced to four years' imprisonment on each conviction, the sentences to run concurrently. For the First Charge, a fine of RM40,000.00 (in default 12 months' imprisonment) was imposed on each. For the Second and Third Charges respectively, fines of RM10,000.00 (in default 3 months' imprisonment) were imposed. Being dissatisfied, all four filed appeals to this Court . The appeals were heard together on 6 August 2025.

[3] After hearing arguments from all parties, I pronounced my decisions on 8 January 2026. The appeals of the First, Second and Fourth Appellants are dismissed; their convictions and sentences are maintained. The appeals of the Third Appellant are allowed; his convictions on both the First and Second charges are set aside and he is acquitted and discharged of both. These are the full grounds of my decision.

The Charges

[4] The charges as amended and tried are reproduced in full below.

[5] The First Charge (Criminal Case No JA-61R-19-07/2020) (all four accused) relating to the offence of corruptly soliciting a gratification reads:

"Bahawa kamu pada 10 April 2018 jam lebih kurang 11.00 malam, di dalam kereta bernombor pendaftaran SLB 4579 T semasa dalam perjalanan dari Balai Polis Kangkar Pulai ke Balai Polis Gelang Patah, di dalam Daerah Johor Bahru, di dalam Negeri Johor bagi mencapai niat bersama kamu telah secara rasuah meminta suatu suapan iaitu wang tunai berjumlah RM7,000.00 daripada Usamah bin Ab Rahim (No. KP: 800313-04-5003) sebagai suatu dorongan untuk kamu sebagai pegawai badan awam iaitu Pegawai Rendah Polis di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Iskandar Puteri untuk tidak melakukan suatu perkara yang dengannya badan awam kamu terlibat iaitu melepaskan Usamah bin Ab Rahim (No. KP: 800313-04-5003) dan Buyamin bin Mohd Yusoff (No. KP: 780704-01-6343) yang telah ditahan atas kesalahan memiliki dadah, dan dengan itu kamu telah melakukan suatu kesalahan di bawah s 16(a)(B) Akta Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia 2009 dibaca bersama s 34 Kanun Keseksaan dan boleh dihukum di bawah s 24(1) Akta yang sama."

[6] The Second Charge (Criminal Case No JA-61R-20- 07/2020) (all four accused) relating to the offence of corruptly obtaining a gratification reads:

"Bahawa kamu pada 11 April 2018 jam lebih kurang 4.00 pagi, di hadapan rumah bernombor 14D Kampung Baru Kangkar Pulai, di dalam Daerah Johor Bahru, di dalam Negeri Johor, sebagai seorang ejen Kerajaan Malaysia iaitu Pegawai Rendah Polis di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Iskandar Puteri, bagi mencapai niat bersama kamu telah secara rasuah memperoleh untuk diri kamu suatu suapan iaitu wang tunai berjumlah RM1,6UU.UU daripada Usamah bin Ab Rahim (No. KP: 800313-04-5003) sebagai dorongan bagi tidak melakukan suatu perbuatan berhubungan dengan hal ehwal prinsipal kamu, iaitu, melepaskan Usamah bin Ab Rahim (No. KP: 800313-04-5003) dan Buyamin bin Mohd Yusoff (No. KP: 780704-01-6343) yang telah ditahan atas kesalahan memiliki dadah, dan dengan itu kam