Ex-Perlis MB claims trial to new misappropriation of govt fund charges

 

Former Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man faces charges under the Penal Code and the MACC Act. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Former Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man has claimed trial to five alternative charges of misappropriating RM1.06 million belonging to the Perlis government.

He had earlier claimed trial to five main charges.

Azlan, 65, pleaded not guilty today after the alternative charges were read to him before Kuala Lumpur sessions court judge Azura Alwi, Bernama reported.

Azlan was accused of misappropriating the amount through payments to Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd and Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd via invoices and orders from the Perlis government, spanning the years 2014 to 2017, and then allegedly transferring the money to his Maybank and CIMB accounts.

The offences allegedly took place at the Maybank Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman branch, the CIMB Bank Putrajaya branch and at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel between Feb 19, 2014 and December 2017.

The charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code which provides for up to five years in prison, whipping and a fine if found guilty.

Nazrie Kahar, a customer service manager at CIMB Bank, testified that Aidil Travel & Tours issued a cheque for RM222,811.95 to Azlan in 2017, with further cheques also issued to him in the same period.

Meanwhile, the former Bintong assemblyman also maintained his not guilty plea to five main charges related to the use of false documents for a non-existent overseas trip to London and claiming reimbursement for air tickets, hotel accommodation and transportation.

These claims were allegedly made using documents, including invoices and quotations issued by Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours and Aidil Travel & Tours, and a Perlis state government order form.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Perlis state secretary’s office, Kompleks Dewan Undangan Negeri, Persiaran Wawasan, between December 2013 and December 2017.

He was charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the false claims or RM10,000 whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The hearing will continue on Feb 3 next year, with Dec 6 scheduled for case management. - FMT