Ex-police clerk pleads guilty to forging govt receipts

New Straits Times

21-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: A former chief finance clerk at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters (IPKKL) was brought before two Sessions Courts today to face 47 charges – 43 counts of forging official government receipts and four counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), involving a total sum of RM196,253.90 between 2021 and this year.
Mizatul Hafiza Mohamad, 41, now an assistant administrative officer at the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department, was arrested on May 14 to assist in investigations concerning water bill payments made by residents of police housing quarters.
Investigations uncovered discrepancies in the receipts she had issued, revealing that the funds collected were not deposited into the government's revenue account.
Appearing before Judge Azrul Darus, Mizatul – a civilian staff member previously attached to IPKKL's Logistics Department – pleaded guilty to 22 charges of forging official government receipts involving RM63,923.20 between September 2021 and March this year.
The charges state that she forged government receipts under the names of 11 individuals, including police personnel, as well as residents' associations of the Police Housing in Balai Kepong, Kuarters Balai Polis Travers and Sri Hartamas, and Berek Balai Polis Jinjang.
The offences were committed at the Logistics Department office located at Jalan Hang Tuah, Dang Wangi.
The offences fall under Section 471 of the Penal Code and are punishable under Section 465, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment or a fine, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutors M. Saravanan and Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan requested time to prepare the case facts and exhibits prior to sentencing.
"The prosecution proposes bail be set at RM50,000 with one surety," Saravanan said.
Mizatul, who represented herself as she did not have legal counsel, pleaded for a reduced bail amount.
"I earn RM3,000 a month and support my parents. My mother is unwell, and I live alone. My bailors would be either my parents or my younger sibling," she told the court.
Judge Azrul set bail at RM40,000 for all charges and fixed June 20 for sentencing and case facts to be presented.
Mizatul made a further plea for a reduction in bail, but the judge maintained the amount, saying the decision was made after taking into account the number of charges involved.
In a separate court before Judge Hamidah Mohamed Deril, Mizatul claimed trial to 21 counts of forging similar documents involving RM30,696.50, along with four charges of CBT involving RM101,635.30.
She was accused of issuing forged official government receipts under the names of 13 individuals and for the same housing quarters, between September 2023 and January this year.
She also allegedly misappropriated government funds in 2021, 2023, 2024, and this year, which she was entrusted to deposit into the government revenue account.
The CBT offences are charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of not less than two years and not more than 20 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Raihanah Abdul Razak did not offer bail for the CBT charges and requested the court to set a date for document submission and the appointment of legal representation.
Hamidah set bail at RM44,000 for all charges and fixed June 20 for mention.