JTB officer on trial for graft

A GOVERNMENT officer stood on trial yesterday on charges for accepting $40,000 from a government contractor.

Pg Hj Ahmad Pg Hj Jaya, a technical officer at the Brunei Telecommunications Department (JTB), is charged under offences relating to public servants for accepting money from a government contractor on June 21, 2005.

The alleged transaction occurred at the vicinity of the parking area of the Mail Processing Centre at the Old Airport in Berakas.

The total sum consisted of $21,000 in the form of $2,000 in cash and $19,000 in cash cheque, which were received from contractor Pea Chong Hing from Pea's Company Sdn Bhd, who was in charge of overseeing some of the JTB projects.

The deputy public prosecutor is represented by Hjh Anifa Rafiza Hj Abd Ghani, who will be bringing eight witnesses to the stand before Magistrate Harnita Zelda Skinner.

Meanwhile, Pg Hj Ahmad is represented by the defence counsel, Ahmad Basuni. If found guilty, Pg Hj Ahmad faces a jail term of seven years with a fine.

The hearing will resume on March 17 with Pea's cross-examination from the defence counsel.

The Brunei Times