MELAKA: A 48-year-old medical assistant has claimed trial to 10 charges of submitting false claims for the supply of medical apparatus to health clinics and rural clinics amounting to RM214,382.
Azizul Farid Muhammad entered a plea of not guilty after the charges were read to him before Sessions judge Elesabet Paya Wan in Ayer Keroh on Tuesday (May 26).
The accused allegedly used documents, namely supply and service acceptance notes, with intent to deceive his principal, the Health Ministry.
The documents were allegedly related to the supply of medical equipment for health clinics and rural clinics under the Alor Gajah Health office by two companies, despite the items purportedly not being provided.
The accused was alleged to have known that the documents contained false material particulars and were intended to mislead the ministry.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Alor Gajah Health office between June 19 and Sept 29, 2023.
Azizul Farid was charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(2).
If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the false particulars, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Sharina Farhana Nor Sa'ari urged the court to impose bail of between RM40,000 and RM50,000 should the court exercise its discretion to grant it to the accused.
She also requested additional conditions requiring the accused to report to the nearest MACC office until the end of his case proceedings and surrender his passport to the court.
Mohamad Kamarulzaman Jusoh, representing the accused, appealed for lower bail, arguing that the case involved allegations dating back three years and that his client had fully cooperated throughout the investigation.
He also submitted that there was no risk of the accused absconding as he was a civil servant, and had a 13-year-old child with a heart condition.
The court then set bail at RM30,000 with one surety and fixed July 14 for the next case mention.
