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A former director of an import-export company, P Poowesna, was fined RM21,000 by the Sessions Court after pleading guilty to four counts of submitting false information to claim RM62,120 in Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) incentives three years ago.
Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail ordered Poowesna, 36, to serve a one-month jail term for each charge if she fails to pay the fine.
During the proceedings, another former director of the company and political party youth leader, A Mohana Sundharam, 35, who faced similar charges, was absent from court due to medical leave. Sundharam’s lawyer, Nur Zafirah Norizan, informed the court that her client had been suffering from food poisoning since the previous day. Judge Ahmad Kamal Arifin rescheduled Sundharam’s plea hearing for August 8.
On November 14 of last year, Poowesna and Sundharam pleaded not guilty to four charges of conspiring to submit the Employee Confirmation Form for TMB Resources to claim RM62,120 in incentives under Perkeso’s Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 programme. The former husband and wife were accused of submitting a document to Perkeso officers with the intent to deceive, knowing it contained false information about 10 supposed new employees who were not employed by the company. These offences were committed at the Perkeso Employment Services Division on May 30, 2021.
Both were charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 20 years, a fine up to five times the amount involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Zahida Muhammad Ruzi represented the prosecution, while lawyer Muhammad Mohd Nasir defended Poowesna. This case highlights the severe consequences of fraudulent activities and the legal ramifications that come with attempting to deceive government agencies for financial gain.
As the legal process continues for Sundharam, the outcome of this case will serve as a crucial precedent in the fight against corruption and fraud within the country, reinforcing the importance of transparency and integrity in corporate practices.
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