KUALA TERENGGANU: A former Terengganu Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council (Maidam) member and his wife pleaded not guilty in the sessions court here today to abuse of power and submitting false claims over the distribution of zakat worth almost RM20,000, from 2019 to 2021.
Zahari Harun, 64, and Lydia Irmawati Mahmud, 41, entered their pleas after the charges were read out separately to them before judge Azhar Othman.
Zahari is accused of abusing his position by taking part in the decision to appoint Amcare Agency, owned by his wife, as a zakat collection agent at the fourth Maidam zakat committee meeting in 2019.
He was charged with committing the offence on Sept 23, 2019 at the Maidam office here.
The charge, framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC Act) 2009, provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Lydia faces eight charges of defrauding Maidam by submitting false information for RM19,900 in refund claims.
The offences, allegedly committed between March 20, 2020 and September 2021 at the Maidam zakat management office here, were framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
The court granted bail of RM7,000 to Zahari and RM10,000 to Lydia.
The couple was also prohibited from contacting prosecution witnesses, ordered to surrender their passports, and report to the nearest MACC office every month until the conclusion of the case.
The court fixed the next mention of the case for May 20.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh prosecuted, while Azrul Zulkifli Stork represented the defendants. - FMT
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