Times are rough and it is understandable that some of us may want to find alternative sources of income to improve our quality of life. However, there are some restrictions to the things we can do to earn extra cash.
An administrative assistant at a government hospital has been fined RM8,000 for pleading guilty to the charge of choosing to conduct business at the same place where she is employed, without permission while still serving as a civil servant.
The accused, Suzana Murni Mansor, 53, is a Grade N22 administrative assistant. This means that she is bounded by laws that prohibit her participation and ownership of any private business that supplies and deals with the government hospital.
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According to the charge, Suzana, who is the owner of Fana Global Resources Company was alleged to have participated in the business of supplying and sending socks worth RM44,500 to the hospital staff where she worked.
The crime and it’s sentence
According to Malaysia Gazette, Suzana was sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges read against her before Judge Azura Alwi at the Sessions Court last Thursday.
The court also ordered the accused to be jailed for five months should she fail to pay the fine of RM8,000.
This is based on the provisions under Regulation 4 (1), Second Schedule, Part II of the Statutory Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act 2000 where the accused has participated in the business, namely as the owner of Fana Global Resources Company.
In this role, she did the job of supplying and delivering socks to the staff of the government hospital concerned in a deal worth RM44,500.
The crime occurred at the Integrated Facilities Management Department within the hospital on December 2016.
Judge Azura shares her thoughts
While deciding on the matter, Judge Azura advised the accused to repent so that she could live a better life after this.
“You should be grateful that you were given optional charges. You have been in the civil service for a long time, and I see that your work record is excellent. But as a result of the mistakes you’ve made, your job will be affected and you have to bear it,” she said.
One netizen felt sorry for her.
“She’s already 52-years-old. She’s going to retire in just a few more years. If this mistake causes her to lose her pension or not be able to retire, I’d feel bad for her.”
Moral of the story: don’t conduct any business dealings with the very place that you are working at, as it is a breach of business ethics and the law!
