GOMBAK: Marine Department director-general Capt Mohamad Halim Ahmed, who faces a cheating charge at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, has been instructed to go on leave, reports Malay language news portal Astro Awani.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke, told Awani that Mohamad Halim had also been instructed to vacate his office while his case was still pending.
He added that this was the standard procedure in the public service.
"He has taken leave, but the doctrine that he is innocent until proven guilty applies. But, as a procedure in public service, he was asked to go on leave and vacate his office.
"While his case is going on in court, he will not report to work," Loke told Awani on Tuesday (Aug 6).
Earlier, Mohamad Halim was accused of tricking his predecessor Datuk Baharin Abdul Hamid at the Marine Department headquarters in Port Klang on Oct 27, 2020.
Mohamad Halim had allegedly deceived Baharin into issuing exemption letters to shipping companies to bring in heavy grade oil into Malaysian waters.
He had allegedly induced Baharin to do so by providing a letter purportedly from the Transport Ministry stating that the minister had made the decision to continue the exemption given to the companies to bring heavy grade oil into Malaysian waters.
