BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

AN IMMIGRATION officer accused of 19 counts of corruption has been given time to enter his plea before the Magistrates’ Court.

The defendant, Hj Roynifarilan Zaini, was charged with three counts of accepting gratification from an Indonesian man Edi Sucipto as an inducement to extend his social visit pass on three occasions some time in December 2010.

The court document further stated 16 counts of corruption accusing the defendant of obtaining the gratification from Edi Sucipto who was extending social visit passes on behalf of seven other Indonesians some time in November 2010 to August 2011.

According to the statement issued by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) yesterday, Hj Roynifarilan was an immigration officer attached at the Kuala Lurah Control Post when the alleged offences were committed.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Pg Nina Jasmine PLKDR Pg Hj Bahrin told the court that from the ACB investigation, the defendant allegedly received a gratification of $760 from Edi Sucipto, as an inducement or reward for granting further extension of eight Indonesians’ social visit passes that would allow them to remain in Brunei. The offences allegedly took place between December 2010 and August 2011.

According to the court document, Hj Roynifarilan received $40 for each extension given to the Indonesians’ social visit passes.

Hj Roynifarilan has been released on a $10,000 bail and one local surety. The case is scheduled to be heard on February 8, before Chief Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri POKSM DSP Hj Abidin.

The Brunei Times