Former MIC veep hit with RM13mil false claim charge

KUALA LUMPUR: At the height of his career he was a contractor, a successful businessman and an MIC vice-president.

Now he is no longer a party strongman or even a member after a big fight within MIC.

And yesterday, Tan Sri S. Balakrishnan, 63, saw another low point when he was charged with making false claims of nearly RM13mil to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) over a river restoration project.

His son B. Ashok Kumar, 31, was charged with abetting him.

Balakrishnan and Ashok Kumar were charged separately in the Sessions Courts.

In the first court before judge Allaudeen Ismail, Balakrishnan, a former director of Syarikat Sinnayah and Sons Sdn Bhd, claimed trial to submitting false claims amounting to RM12.8mil for the supply and delivery of 358 dewatering container units to carry out restoration works for the DID.

Serious trouble: Ashok Kumar (in front) and Balakrishnan being led into the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur.

 

The claims were made via quantity surveyor Nuri Abdullah to be handed over to the DID’s special project division director, when the actual amount supplied was 89 units at a cost of RM3.2mil.

Balakrishnan allegedly committed the offence at the DID headquarters between April 27 and Oct 23, 2012.

MACC deputy public prosecutor S. Thang­avelu proposed bail at RM1mil with two sureties and also applied for Balakrishnan’s passport to be impounded.

In another Sessions Court before judge Azura Alwi, Ashok Kumar, who was Syarikat Sinnayah’s former project manager, also pleaded not guilty to abetting his father.

DPP Thangavelu applied for a joint trial with Balakrishnan.

Both courts fixed bail at RM500,000 with two sureties each and ordered father and son to surrender their passports. Both courts fixed Aug 28 for mention.