SANDAKAN: A former Risda officer pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of submitting false claims amounting to more than RM63,000.
Abdul Latip Ibrahim, 37, made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat.
On the first to 14 counts, Abdul is accused of submitting the 14 false claims. Among the claims were for food and beverage expenses, PA system for several series of monthly assemblies of Risda between 2017 to 2018, ‘Kasihi Pekebun dan Tanam Semula’ programme in Kg Salam, Telupid on Feb 8, 2018 and ‘Amalan Pertanian Baik Bersama Pekebun Kecil Dan Pegawai Risda’ programme in Kg Bakong-Bakong, Telupid.
The court offered bail of RM10,000 in a local surety, with the additional condition that Latip should not tamper with the witnesses, report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s office once in two months, and surrender his passport, if any, to the court.
MACC Prosecuting Officer Dzulkarnain Rousan Hasbi appeared for the prosecution while Abdul Latip was represented by counsel Shabatha Lincon.
Meanwhile, Latip’s brother, Rusdianto Ibrahim, 41, was also charged with abetting Latip in committing the offences.
Rusdianto, who was granted bail of RM10,000 with RM4,000 deposited in a local surety with same conditions as Latip, also claimed trial.
The court set June 21 for re -mention date for the case.
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