The Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the acquittal of two former senior officials from Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB), Haji Muhammad Suffian bin Haji Bungsu and Jonathan Kho Chew Sen, who were previously cleared of corruption charges related to the purchase of a luxury car valued at BND66,800.
The Magistrate’s Court had delivered its ruling on March 6, acquitting both men after finding insufficient evidence to support the charges brought under Sections 6(a) and 6(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, as well as alternative charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code. The prosecution alleged that the transaction was a corrupt gift intended to influence public officers, while the defence maintained that it was a personal loan between colleagues.
Despite the court’s decision, the Public Prosecutor is now challenging the acquittal for any error in law or in fact or against the weight of the evidence. – Fadley Faisal
