JOHOR BARU: An assistant economic affairs officer has claimed trial to 16 charges of misappropriating nearly RM140,000 from the sale of oil palm fruit.
Muhammad Faiz Ibrahim, 36, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before Sessions judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail here on Monday (March 30).
He is alleged to have dishonestly misappropriated income from the sale of oil palm fruit belonging to the East Kota Tinggi Farmers Association, ranging from RM2,616.15 to RM14,520, for his own use.
The offences were allegedly committed at the association's office in the Farmers' Development Centre between April 26, 2021, and Nov 15, 2022.
The charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of five years, caning and a fine upon conviction.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Alice Voon Mei Ling offered bail of RM25,000 with one surety against the accused.
Faiz's lawyer Asiah Abd Jalil pleaded for the minimum bail as her client had cooperated throughout the investigation and was also facing the possibility of work suspension and withheld salary.
The court then set bail at RM10,000 with one local surety and set April 30 for case mention.
