[UPDATED] Azlan Man pleads not guilty to submitting false claims

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Perlis menteri besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man has claimed trial at the Kangar sessions court to five charges of submitting false claims amounting to more than RM1.18 million.

He pleaded not guilty after his charges were read in front of sessions judge Hakim Norsalha Hamzah.

According to the charge sheet, the claims were submitted for return flight tickets to the United Kingdom as well as accommodation and transportation costs even though the trip did not materialise.

He is accused of committing the offences between 2013 and 2017 in his capacity as menteri besar, and is being charged under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, reported Free Malaysia Today. 

The court has granted Azlan a RM50,000 bail with one surety. He was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court.

His charges are as follows: 

- falsely claiming RM230,230 for return flight tickets, hotel and transportation in London between December 20, 2013 and January 4, 2014.

- falsely claiming RM216,260 for return flight tickets to London and accommodation between November 20, 2014 and December 18, 2014.

- falsely claiming RM241,295 for return flight tickets to London and accommodation between November 30, 2015 and December 21, 2015.

- falsely claiming RM253,195 for return flight tickets to London and accommodation between November 8, 2016 and December 29, 2016.

- falsely claiming RM244,079 for return flight tickets to London and accommodation between November 8 and 30, 2017.

Clad in a blue shirt, Azlan arrived at the court complex in Kangar, Perlis before 9am and was accompanied by a slew of supporters, including Kayang assemblyman Hamizan Hassan and Azlan’s former press secretary Saiful Daniel Mohd Yusof.

He is represented by Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid while the prosecution is led by MACC deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib.

Azlan, 64, had served as the menteri besar from 2013 to 2022, having been the assemblyman for both Bintong (2018-2022) and Puah (2013-2018) throughout his tenure in Perlis.

However, during the last general election, Azlan failed to defend his state seat as Barisan Nasional fell to Perikatan Nasional in Perlis at both federal and state levels. 

He also failed to defend his Kangar Umno chief post in the recent party polls. – The Vibes, April 10, 2023