KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC vice-president Tan Sri S. Balakrishnan and his son claimed trial to making false claims of nearly RM13mil over a river restoration project to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
Balakrishnan, 63, was accused of submitting false claims of RM12,888,000 relating to the supply of some 358 geotubes to carry out the restoration works for the DID.
The actual number of units supplied is said to be just 89 units costing RM4mil.
The offence allegedly took place at the DID headquarters in Jalan Sultan Salahuddin here between Apr 27 and Oct 23, 2012.
Balakrishnan's son, B. Ashok Kumar, who was charged separately in another Sessions Court, pleaded not guilty to abetting his father.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutor S. Thangavelu proposed bail at RM1mil with two sureties and for Balakrishnan's passport to be impounded.
Both the accused were represented by Ashok Athimulan and John Dass.
Athimulam later asked for a RM250,000 bail with two sureties. He also made an oral application for his client not to surrender his passport as he needed to attend his child's graduation ceremony in Australia.
Bail was fixed at RM500,000 with two sureties for each accused.
The courts also ordered Balakrishnan and Ashok Kumar to surrender their passports. They may apply for the documents should they need to travel.
Both courts fixed Aug 28 for mention.
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