A Kedah Public Works Department architect denies charges of submitting false travel allowance claims totalling RM1,494.50 for trips in 2024.
ALOR SETAR: A supervising architect with the Kedah Public Works Department (JKR) pleaded not guilty to two counts of submitting false travel allowance claims.
Suhaili Othman, 55, entered his plea at the Sessions Court here before Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.
The first charge alleges he deceived the department by claiming RM894.50 for a June 2024 trip to Melaka.
He is accused of falsely stating he used his personal vehicle instead of a project vehicle.
The second charge involves a RM600 claim for a July 2024 discussion session in Putrajaya.
For this, he allegedly claimed a replacement air ticket allowance and again misrepresented his vehicle use.
Both offences were allegedly committed at the Kedah JKR Architecture Division in Kota Setar on July 8 and August 5, 2024.
The charges fall under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Nurul Atika Ab. Rashid prosecuted the case.
The accused was represented by counsels Yusmadi Yusoff and Durratul ‘Ain Mahmud Morshidi.
Judge Hemamalini set bail at RM8,000 with one surety.
She also ordered the accused not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The case has been fixed for mention on March 4.
