KUALA LUMPUR – Two businessmen claimed trial to charges relating to submitting false documents to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to claim incentives under the PenjanaKerjaya 2.0 and 3.0 programmes amounting to RM756,980.
Bmine Enterprise manager Muhammad Asyraf Omar, 31, and Perusahaan RR Sinergi Enterprise owner Muhammad Aliff Abdul Rashid, 36, pleaded not guilty to one and six charges respectively at the Shah Alam sessions court before judge Rozilah Salleh.
Asyraf is accused of committing the offence on March 22, 2021 by submitting false documents to a Socso officer in the Petaling Jaya branch to claim incentives amounting to RM42,800, reported Bernama.
Aliff was charged with committing the offences on June 12 and September 14, 2021 at Socso’s office in Rawang. He allegedly made incentive claims totalling RM714,180.
The charges were framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24(2) of the same law – which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the value of the subject matter of the offence or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
The court allowed Asyraf bail of RM5,000 with one surety while granting Aliff an RM50,000 bail with one surety and other conditions applied by the prosecution.
Earlier, MACC deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin applied for an RM10,000 bail with one surety for Asyraf and an RM50,000 bail with one surety for Aliff, as well as for the duo to report themselves to the nearest MACC office once a month until the case is over.
Asyraf was unrepresented while Aliff was represented by lawyer Ahmad Naqib Azhar.
Case mention is set for February 13 and 27, respectively.
Previously MACC said it had arrested 45 people nationwide, including business owners, managers, and executives, for allegedly making false claims and misappropriating PenjanaKerjaya funds. – The Vibes, January 12, 2023
