2 days ago
False claims: Jail, fine for ex-Rela officer
Published on: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025
By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: Venantius (left) being escorted by the MACC personnel after the proceedings. Kota Kinabalu: A former Rela officer from Tenom who told the court that he submitted the false claims for the assignment allowances during the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) as he wanted to help the Tenom Rela personnel whose income was affected at that time, was jailed 14 days and fined a total of RM147,160 for seven counts of submitting false claims. Venantius Masingga, 63, said this in mitigation after he pleaded guilty to the charges against him before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga, on Wednesday.
Advertisement He told the court that the money which he obtained using the fake claims were not for his personal use but to buy food baskets for the Tenom Rela personnel affected by the implementation of MCO at that time. According to Venantius, he did not mean to commit the offence but forced to do so to help the Rela personnel. Originally, Venantius have 18 charges against him but he only pleaded guilty to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth charges while the rest were taken into consideration by court in accordance with Section 171A of the Criminal Procedure Code. The sentences imposed on Venantius as follows: Second count – two days' jail and fined RM16,160 in default three months' jail.
Third count – two days' jail and fined RM27,680 in default three months' jail.
Fourth count - two days' jail and fined RM24,400 in default three months' jail.
Fifth count - two days' jail and fined RM21,240 in default three months' jail.
Sixth count - two days' jail and fined RM19,200 in default three months' jail.
Seventh count - two days' jail and fined RM18,640 in default three months' jail.
Eight count - two days' jail and fined RM19,840 in default three months' jail. The court ordered Venantius to serve the jail sentences concurrently. Venantius did not pay the fines. The charges stated that Venantius had submitted the MCO assignment allowance claims under the names of his wife and children who actually never performed their duties during the MCO with the intention of deceiving the Director of Rela Sabah. He committed the offence between March 2020 and August 2021 at the Rela Sabah Headquarters. The offence under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 24(2) of the same Act provides for a jail term of up to 20 years, or a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. In mitigation, Venantius who was not represented, asked for leniency saying that it was his first offence and very remorseful as well and promised not to repeat the offence in future. He added that he was suffering from hypertension and that he has two small and schoolchildren to look after. Venantius also told the court that he had served 20 years as army, 20 years as Rela personnel and six years being a coach for National Service Training Programme (PLKN). 'I will get ready to do community service if the court orders so,' said Venantius. However, MACC Prosecuting Officer Rekhraj Singh urged the court to hand down an appropriate sentence taking into consideration the rampancy of the case as well as seriousness of the offence. Rekhraj submitted that as Rela personnel, Venantius should be a good example to the community and that the sentence should be a lesson not only to Venantius but others. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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