KUALA LUMPUR: A former aide to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two counts of cheating and corruption linked to the procurement of interactive smartboards for schools in Seputeh.
Edmund Teoh, 40, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read out before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin here on Monday.
According to the charge sheet, Teoh allegedly misled Kok into believing that only two schools in the Seputeh constituency had applied for a contribution of interactive smartboards when he knew there were 16 schools that had made applications.
Teoh’s alleged act caused Kok to approve him to make an application for the contribution through the MyKhas system under the Projek Mesra Rakyat programme for the Seputeh parliamentary constituency, which she would not have done if she had not been deceived.
He was charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Teoh was also accused of corruptly receiving RM500,000 in cash from one Ainuddin Aminuddin as a reward, while he was assistant to the Seputeh MP, for helping Ainuddin secure contributions for the supply of interactive smartboards and related equipment for 16 schools in Seputeh by TMT IT Solutions, a company owned by Ainuddin’s wife.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Shell petrol station parking area in Jalan Kuchai Maju, Kuchai Lama, on Aug 12, 2024.
He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Julaila Jamaluddin proposed bail of RM150,000 in one surety.
The prosecution also sought additional conditions for the accused to surrender his passport and report to the MACC monthly.
Teoh’s lawyer M.N. Lo asked for a lower bail amount, saying Teoh had given full cooperation in the investigation and was remanded for four days.
“There is no tendency for him to abscond,” she said.
Lo said bail was meant to secure an accused person’s attendance in court and should not be punitive.
She also told the court Teoh earned between RM3,000 and RM4,000 a month as a p-hailing driver and could only afford RM30,000 bail, with the help of a friend acting as surety.
Judge Suzana set bail at RM60,000 in one surety and allowed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution.
