SHAH ALAM: A 56-year-old headmaster was sentenced to eight month in prison for accepting RM4,400 bribe, in a verdict passed by the Sessions Court here today.

Judge Asmadi Hussain meted out the sentence on M. Subramaniam after he was found guilty for receiving the bribe from K. Devega for a canteen contract three years ago.

Subramaniam, who is currently a headmaster at a primary school in Sungai Buloh, was slapped with two counts of receiving a Hong Leong Bank Berhad cheque of RM1,500 and RM2,900 in cash from Devenga as an inducement for him to provide a support letter to extend the former canteen contract in the school.

He was alleged to have committed the offence when he was the headmaster for Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Rawang between Jan 20 and Oct 8,2014, respectively.

Subramaniam was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

However, the court allowed a stay of execution pending an appeal and ordered the bail to be increased from RM5,000 to RM10,000 with one surety.

Subramaniam also has to report to the nearest Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office every month. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahamed Sukri Abu Seman prosecuted while the accused was represented by M. Athimulan.

-New Straits Times