Why was the former Star assistant manager jailed for bribery?

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Former Star Assistant Manager Jailed for Bribery

A former assistant manager in The Star's editorial department, M. Youganesparan, has had his 30-month jail sentence and RM100,000 fine upheld by the High Court for receiving a RM20,000 bribe. The bribe was given as an inducement for an officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to close a case involving Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah. The High Court dismissed Youganesparan's appeal against his conviction and sentence, affirming the decision of the Sessions Court.
Bribery Conviction Details

Youganesparan was found guilty by the Sessions Court on December 18, 2018, of receiving RM20,000 from Mohd Emir as an inducement for a MACC officer to drop a case concerning Mohd Emir. The offence occurred on May 30, 2017, at Dome Cafe, Vista Power, The Intermark, Jalan Tun Razak. The charge falls under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in jail, a fine of RM10,000, or five times the bribe amount, whichever is higher.
Court's Reasoning for Upholding Sentence

The High Court judge, Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh, found the prosecution's evidence overwhelming, particularly noting that the RM20,000 was provided in marked RM100 denomination notes. These notes were properly listed and documented, and their handover to Youganesparan was witnessed by several individuals. The judge also questioned Youganesparan's explanation for accepting the cash to set up a company, deeming it more prudent to transact such a sum online or via cheque for personal safety, especially for someone employed by a mainstream media organisation.
Appeal Dismissal and Sentence Affirmation

In dismissing the appeal against conviction and sentence, Justice Ahmad Shahrir stated that he found no valid reasons to intervene with the Sessions Court's decision. Consequently, the original sentence of 30 months' imprisonment and a RM100,000 fine was affirmed. Youganesparan was granted a stay of execution for the jail sentence pending his appeal to the Court of Appeal, with his bail increased from RM40,000 to RM50,000.

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Why was the former Star assistant manager jailed for bribery?

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