PUTRAJAYA: A former Perak Immigration Department Prosecution Unit chief began serving a three-year prison sentence today after the Court of Appeal reinstated his conviction for soliciting and accepting bribes 11 years ago.

A three-member panel led by Judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, in an unanimous decision, allowed the prosecution's final appeal to set aside the Ipoh High Court's decision that had acquitted Zaidi Dali, 58.

Noorin, presiding alongside Judges Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid and Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Harun, stated in her judgment that the High Court judge erred in acquitting Zaidi.

She said the prosecution had presented sufficient grounds to enable the court to intervene in the appeal.