Took bribes to help hotels get three-star status; tourism department official sentenced to jail term

KOCHI: A tourism department official has been sentenced to three years in prison for taking bribes to help hotels get three-star status. KS Sabu, the former tourist information officer of Kochi, was convicted by a special CBI court in Kochi. Sabu will also have to pay a fine of three lakh rupees. The court has also punished hoteliers. Hotel owners in Malappuram and Kannur districts have to pay a fine of Rs 55,000 each.

In 2011, the hotel owners bribed Sabu to give a favourable report to their hotels. The court has also sentenced Kannur-based hoteliers NK Nigesh Kumar and James Joseph to one year each in prison.