HR&CE Executive Officer was rightly dismissed from service for failing to protect temple land: Madras High Court

The Melaka High Court has upheld the conviction of JPJ officer Che Fadzlie Izwan Che Johari on eight corruption charges, dismissing his appeal. Justice Suria Kumar Durairaj Johnson Paul found that documentary evidence, including a book of payments and witness testimonies, demonstrated the existence of a syndicate protecting overloaded lorries.

According to the case, Fadzlie was part of a 'tonto' syndicate, a network of informants and middlemen who monitored and pressured road transport law enforcement. Fadzlie was responsible for ensuring no action was taken against overloaded lorries. A middleman collected money from lorry companies and then passed it on to Fadzlie, who distributed it among his officers.

The initial sentencing in March 2025 was one year in prison for each of the eight charges and an RM80,000 fine. The court ruled that Fadzlie's conviction under Section 16(b)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which deals with payments for favours, stood. This section carries a potential 20-year prison term and a fine exceeding RM10,000 or five times the gratification's value, whichever is greater.

Fadzlie and several others were arrested in a March 2021 raid on overloaded lorries. In his defence, Fadzlie claimed some of the money given to his officers was for road tax renewals, but the high court rejected his claim, maintaining that his appeal had no merit.