11 hours ago
Former Melaka govt dept director claims trial to bribery, false claims charges
MELAKA: A 51-year-old former director of the Melaka Youth and Sports Department has claimed trial to five charges of receiving bribes and submitting false claims amounting to RM126,100.
Khairol Adri Rosli entered a plea of not guilty after all the charges were read out to him before Sessions judge Elesabet Paya Wan in Ayer Keroh on Tuesday (June 17).
On the first charge, the accused is alleged to have submitted false particulars of upgrading works for the tennis and petanque courts at the Melaka State Youth and Sports Complex, amounting to RM126,100.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Youth and Sports Department office on Dec 8, 2023.
The charge was framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(2), which provides for up to 20 years' jail and a fine no less than five times the value of the false claim or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the second to fifth charges, he is alleged to have received RM8,000 from one Shaari So'od, 63, who had a vested interest in the upgrading works of the tennis and petanque courts at the complex.
The offences were allegedly committed at four different locations around the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) and Bukit Baru here between Sept 25, 2023 and June 25 last year.
For these offences, Khairol was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to two years in prison, or a fine, or both if found guilty.
DPP Sharina Farhana Nor Sa'ari proposed bail of RM25,000 for all the charges with additional conditions.
Lawyer T. Gajendran, representing the accused, appealed for a lower amount as his client has to support his family.
The court set bail at RM20,000 for all charges and fixed Aug 15 for next mention.
