KOTA KINABALU: A former Rela officer from Tenom has been charged with 18 counts of submitting false claims totalling RM63,000 for Movement Control Order (MCO) assignment allowances.
Venantius Masingga, 63, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga to all charges on Friday.
He allegedly submitted false claims under the names of his wife and children, who did not perform their duties, intending to deceive the Sabah Rela Director between March 2020 and August 2021.
The charges, under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, carry a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine of at least five times the amount involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The court set April 22 for mention and released him on RM15,000 bail, ordering him to report to the MACC office monthly and not to tamper with prosecution witnesses.