Fadley Faisal
A deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, 51, was indicted yesterday at the Magistrate’s Court on multiple charges of misconduct in public office.
The defendant was alleged to have allowed an event manager to transfer BND9,500 into his personal bank account.
The event manager was a participating vendor in the Brunei December Festival 2020, an event organised by the Tourism Development Department, and under the purview of the defendant, according to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The government official is accused of abusing the public trust and faces charges of receiving a payment without consideration, or for a consideration which he knew to be inadequate, from a person related to his official duties as a public servant.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary was also alleged to have committed two offences of misconduct as a public servant between 2020 and 2021.
The defendant was alleged to be favourably disposed to two hotels in Tutong and Belait districts in exchange for not having to make immediate payments upon checkout for the use of hotel rooms on various occasions, chargeable for BND2,277 and BND2,904.
No plea was taken from the defendant and the court adjourned the case to June 20. Deputy Public Prosecutor Dayangku Didi – Nuraza binti Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff represented the Public Prosecutor.
Magistrate Harnita Zelda Skinner released the defendant on court bail of BND10,000 or in two local sureties.
