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ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS & ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
SATURDAY, 8 MARCH 2025
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
V
HJ MUHAMMAD SUFFIAN BIN HAJI BUNGSU [D1]
JONATHAN KHO CHEW SEN [D2]
Two government servants, Hj Muhammad Suffian bin Haji Bungsu and Jonathan Kho Chiew Sen, were found not guilty by the Magistrate's Court following a trial for offences under section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Chapter 131 and alternative charges under section 165 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22.
Hj Muhammad Suffian was alleged to have corruptly accepted from Jonathan a Mercedes C200 CGI AMG Sports purchased at BND66,800 as an inducement or reward for securing the appointment of Jonathan as the Acting Head of News and Current Affairs at Radio Television Brunei (RTB). The incident occurred on or about 17th July 2014 when Hj Muhammad Suffian was the Director of RTB and Jonathan was his subordinate. In the alternative, it was alleged that Hj Muhammad Suffian obtained the car without consideration from his subordinate who he knew to have a connection with his offical functions. Jonathan was alleged to have abetted Hj Muhammad Suffian in doing so by giving the car.
Jonathan was appointed as the Acting Head of News and Current Affairs between between 2013 and 2016. The position was renewed every 3 months and his letters of appointment were signed by Hj Muhammad Suffian.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau began investigations into the matter in 2021 and the Defendants were then charged in the Magistrates Court on 11th April 2022. The Prosecution called 6 witnesses whereas the Defendants gave evidence and called 2 witnesses.
The Court heard that on 17th July 2014, Jonathan fully paid for the Mercedes car in cash at the car dealer and registered it in Hj Muhammad Sufian's name. He personally presented the car as a surprise to Hj Muhammad Suffian at his home. The claim that the BND66,800 used to pay for the car is an interest-free loan only came into existence after this purchase and delivery. Both Defendants reiterated that their relationship were professional in nature only.
The Honourable Court accepted that it was plausible for Jonathan to pay in advance for Hj Muhammad Suffian to avoid a substantial increase in the purchase price due to loan interest. This is given that Jonathan came from a wealthy family and have previously bought cars in cash. The Court also recognised his generosity towards his RTB colleagues as evidenced by his contributions to office events and using substantial personal funds to assist his colleagues and RTB for work-related purposes. Therefore, the Court found that his purchase of the Mercedes car for a colleague was not an isolated incident.
Although no repayments have ever been made, the Court accepted that it was credible that Jonathan trusted Hj Muhammad Suffian's ability to repay the amount in lump sum once he had sufficient funds. Given his access to personal or family resources, Jonathan's testimony that he had no immediate need for repayment of the funds was found to be believable.
The Court found that Jonathan's appointment as Acting Head of News was based on his merit and is consistent with his long-standing role in the position predating Hj Muhammad Suffian's tenure at RTB. The Court concluded that there was no suggestion for Jonathan to believe he was at risk of not being renewed in the appointment which could lead him to engage in corrupt activity with Hj Muhammad Suffian.
Based on the overall conclusions made, the Court acquitted both Defendants of all the charges. The Defendants were represented by Yusof Halim & Partners, Advocates & Solicitors.
The Prosecution has filed a notice of appeal against the acquittals.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau will continue working to uphold public trust and accountability.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau would like to remind the public including public servants serving under the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam that the corrupt giving or acceptance of any form of gifts including loans amounts to gratification and is an offence under section 6 of the Prevention of Corruption Act be liable to a fine of $30,000 and imprisonment for 7 years. It is also an offence under section 165 of the Penal Code for a public servant to accept or attempt to obtain any valuable thing without or with inadequate consideration from any person whom he knows to have any connection with his official functions, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years and fine.
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PEJABAT PEGUAM NEGARA & BIRO MENCEGAH RASUAH
SIARAN MEDIA BERSAMA
SABTU, 8 MAC 2025
PENDAKWA RAYA
V
HJ MUHAMMAD SUFFIAN BIN HAJI BUNGSU [D1]
JONATHAN KHO CHEW SEN [D2]
Dua kakitangan kerajaan, Hj Muhammad Suffian bin Haji Bungsu dan Jonathan Kho Chiew Sen, didapati tidak bersalah oleh Mahkamah Majistret selepas perbicaraan untuk suatu kesalahan di bawah bab 6 Akta Pencegahan Rasuah, Bab 131 dan pertuduhan alternatif di bawah bab 165 dari Akta Kanun Hukuman Jenayah, Penggal 22.
Hj Muhammad Suffian didakwa menerima rasuah daripada Jonathan iaitu sebuah Mercedes C200 CGI AMG Sports yang dibeli pada harga BND66,800 sebagai dorongan atau ganjaran untuk memastikan lantikan Jonathan sebagai Pemangku Ketua Berita dan Hal Ehwal Semasa di Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB). Kejadian tersebut berlaku pada sekitar 17hb Julai 2014 ketika Hj Muhammad Suffian merupakan Pengarah RTB dan Jonathan adalah orang bawahannya. Dalam pertuduhan alternatif, didakwa bahawa Hj Muhammad Suffian memperoleh kereta tersebut tanpa pertimbangan daripada orang bawahannya yang diketahui mempunyai hubungan dengan tugas rasmi beliau. Jonathan didakwa telah membantu Hj Muhammad Suffian melakukan perbuatan itu dengan memberikan kereta tersebut.
Jonathan dilantik sebagai Pemangku Ketua Berita dan Hal Ehwal Semasa antara tahun 2013 dan 2016. Jawatan tersebut diperbaharui setiap 3 bulan dan surat lantikan beliau telah ditandatangani oleh Hj Muhammad Suffian.
Biro Mencegah Rasuah memulakan siasatan terhadap perkara ini pada tahun 2021 dan Defendan kemudiannya didakwa di Mahkamah Majistret pada 11hb April 2022. Pendakwaan memanggil 6 orang saksi manakala Defendan memberikan keterangan dan memanggil 2 orang saksi.
Mahkamah mendengar bahawa pada 17hb Julai 2014, Jonathan membayar sepenuhnya kereta Mercedes tersebut secara tunai di pengedar kereta dan mendaftarkannya atas nama Haji Muhammad Suffian. Beliau secara peribadi menyerahkan kereta tersebut sebagai kejutan kepada Hj Muhammad Suffian di rumahnya. Dakwaan mengenai BND66,800 yang digunakan untuk membayar kereta tersebut adalah pinjaman tanpa faedah yang hanya wujud selepas pembelian dan penghantaran tersebut. Kedua-dua Defendan menegaskan bahawa hubungan mereka hanya bersifat professional.
Mahkamah menerima bahawa adalah munasabah bagi Jonathan untuk membayar terlebih dahulu bagi pihak Hj Muhammad Suffian bagi mengelakkan kenaikan harga pembelian yang tinggi akibat faedah pinjaman. Ini memandangkan Jonathan berasal daripada keluarga mewah dan sebelum ini telah membeli kereta secara tunai. Mahkamah juga mengiktiraf sifat murah hati beliau terhadap rakan-rakan RTB seperti yang dibuktikan dengan sumbangan beliau kepada acara-acara pejabat dan menggunakan dana peribadi yang banyak untuk membantu rakan-rakannya dan RTB untuk tujuan yang berkaitan dengan kerja. Oleh itu, Mahkamah mendapati bahawa pembelian kereta Mercedes untuk rakan sekerja bukan satu perkara yang asing.
Walaupun tiada bayaran balik pernah dibuat, Mahkamah menerima bahawa adalah wajar untuk Jonathan mempercayai keupayaan Hj Muhammad Suffian untuk membayar balik jumlah tersebut secara sekaligus apabila beliau memunyai dana yang mencukupi. Memandangkan akses beliau kepada sumber peribadi atau keluarga, keterangan Jonathan bahawa beliau tidak memerlukan pembayaran semula dana tersebut dalam masa terdekat didapati boleh dipercayai.
Mahkamah mendapati pelantikan Jonathan sebagai Pemangku Ketua Berita adalah berdasarkan merit beliau dan selaras dengan peranan jangka panjang beliau dalam jawatan tersebut sebelum Hj Muhammad Suffian dilantik di RTB. Mahkamah membuat kesimpulan bahawa tidak ada cadangan untuk Jonathan mempercayai beliau berisiko untuk tidak disambung dalam pelantikan tersebut yang boleh menyebabkan beliau terlibat dalam aktiviti rasuah dengan Hj Muhammad Suffian.
Berdasarkan kesimpulan keseluruhan yang dibuat, Mahkamah membebaskan kedua-dua Defendan daripada semua tuduhan tersebut. Defendan diwakili oleh Yusof Halim & Partners, Advocates & Solicitors.
Pihak pendakwaan telah memfailkan notis rayuan terhadap pembebasan itu.
Biro Mencegah Rasuah akan terus berusaha untuk mempertahankan kepercayaan orang ramai dan akauntabilitnya.
Biro Mencegah Rasuah ingin mengingatkan orang ramai termasuk kakitangan Kerajaan yang berkhidmat di bawah Kerajaan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam bahawa pemberian atau penerimaan rasuah dalam apa-apa bentuk hadiah termasuk pinjaman yang berjumlah untuk memuaskan hati dan adalah satu kesalahan di bawah bab 6 Akta Pencegahan Rasuah boleh dikenakan denda sebanyak $30,000 dan penjara selama 7 tahun. Ia juga adalah satu kesalahan di bawah bab 165 dari Akta Kanun Hukuman Jenayah bagi seseorang kakitangan kerajaan untuk menerima atau cuba mendapatkan apa-apa benda yang berharga tanpa atau dengan pertimbangan yang tidak memadai daripada mana-mana orang yang diketahui mempunyai kaitan dengan tugas rasmi, yang boleh dihukum penjara tidak melebihi 7 tahun dan denda.
-TAMAT-
