KUALA LUMPUR – Two brothers, who are the owners of a subsidised cooking oil packaging company, were arraigned at the sessions court here today on 52 charges relating to RM1.5 million in false claims over the supply of the product to retail companies two years ago.
Datuk Mohd Farid Mohamad Ali, 42, and his brother, Mohd Fadhil Mohamad Ali, 38, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read out before judge Izralizam Sanusi.
On all the charges, Farid is accused of providing the statement of claims for payment containing false details for the period between January 2019 and March 2020, involving RM1,596,341.40, to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry employees.
The offences were allegedly committed at the ministry in Putrajaya.
The charges are framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the false or misleading material details, and if the material items can be valued in the form of money, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Fadhil was charged with 52 counts of abetting Farid.
The charges are under Section 18 of the MACC Act, read together with Section 28(1)(c) of the same act, which carries the same sentence, upon conviction.
Farid pleaded not guilty to 52 optional charges in relation to the same offences, in which he is alleged to have committed the said offences with the intention to commit fraud, under Section 468 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum seven years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
Fadhil, too, pleaded not guilty to 52 optional charges of abetting Farid, under the same section.
Farid pleaded not guilty to a charge of receiving RM192,433.20 in proceeds of illegal activities from a Hong Leong Bank account belonging to the ministry to a Bank Islam account belonging to Syarikat Temasek Growth Sdn Bhd, where he is the account controller.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Menara Bank Islam Kuala Lumpur branch between March 19 and October 19, 2019, pursuant to Subsection 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, read together with Subsection 87(1) and punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same act.
He faces a maximum 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds of the illegal activities, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutors Rasyidah Murni Azmi and Maziah Mohaide prosecuted, while the accused were represented by lawyers Muhammad Nor Izzat Nordin and Keshwinder Singh.
The court allowed Farid bail at RM150,000 on all the charges and Fadhil, RM100,000, each with one surety, and ordered that their passports be handed over.
The duo must report to the nearest MACC office once a month until the case is completed.
The court set September 1 for mention. – Bernama, June 25, 2021
