Former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man asked travel agents to refund payments for family holidays into his personal account, the Sessions Court heard today.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court was told today that former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man requested two travel agents to refund payments for overseas family holidays into his personal account.
Azlan’s former senior private secretary, Herwardy Hashim, 45, testified that the former MB directed him to have Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours return the funds.
He was also told to have Aidil Travel & Tour deposit cash into the same account.
Herwardy explained that the agents had asked for supporting documents, including passports, to proceed with booking flights, hotels and transport for a London holiday.
“However, the MB then instructed me to inform them that he would manage the London family holiday himself and to request that they refund the money,” said the 18th prosecution witness.
The witness said he could not confirm if Azlan had taken a particular trip.
“I only managed the approval of leave and use of his overseas leave entitlement,” he added.
Herwardy was reading his statement in the trial of Azlan, who is facing ten charges of submitting false claims and receiving proceeds from unlawful activities.
The witness said he was the officer responsible for managing travel documentation for the MB to utilise privileges under relevant regulations.
Herwardy said Azlan had suggested Sri Kedawang because he had used their services while at Wisma Putra.
He explained that the owner of Aidil Travel & Tours, Abdul Rahim Halim, was previously a partner in Sri Kedawang.
Azlan, 67, faces five charges related to submitting false claims for overseas holidays totalling over RM1.18 million.
The offences are alleged to have been committed at the Office of the State Secretary of Perlis between December 2013 and December 2017.
The claims involved flight ticket quotations to London and invoices from the two travel agencies.
He is charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine.
Azlan also faces five further charges of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM1.06 million.
These offences were allegedly committed between February 2014 and December 2017 at several bank branches and a hotel.
He is further charged with five alternative counts of criminal breach of trust for allegedly misappropriating RM1.06 million in Perlis state funds.
The trial before Judge Azura Alwi resumes on Jan 21 next year.
