Kota Kinabalu: A husband-and-wife business team charged with abetting a company director in submitting false claims amounting to more than RM3.6 million to the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) will stand trial in August this year.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus fixed August 17 to 19 for the trial of two separate charges, while August 24 to 28 was set for the trial of a joint charge.
All dates were set for Anita Mohamed, 55, and Ang Ka Fat @ Kenny, 58, when their case came up for mention on Monday.
On the first charge, Anita and Ang are accused of abetting a company manager in submitting documents dated Nov 11, 2022, together with 12 supporting Delivery Order documents containing false particulars, involving claims for MeSTI and Halal certification services under the Sabah SME Assistance Programme (BAIKS) 2022, including renovation works, valued at RM500,000, which were allegedly not carried out.
The documents were purportedly submitted to an administrative assistant with intent to deceive her principal, the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR), on Nov 11, 2022, at the department.
On the second charge, the couple are accused of committing a similar offence by submitting documents dated Oct 10, 2023, together with 45 supporting Delivery Order documents containing false particulars involving claims for MeSTI, My Food Tag and Halal certification services under the Sabah SME Assistance Programme (BAIKS) 2023, including renovation works, valued at RM2.7 million, which were allegedly not carried out.
The offence is said to have taken place on Nov 2, 2023, at the same location.
The charges fall under Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, read together with Section 18 of the same Act, and punishable under Section 24(2), which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the false particulars or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For a joint charge, the couple are accused of acting with common intention in submitting invoice documents dated Nov 7, 2023, together with 13 supporting Delivery Order documents containing false particulars.
The claims involved the supply of 11 units of 100-litre retort machines, two units of 150-litre retort machines, registration and approval from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh), hydrostatic testing by Dosh, and premises registration for 13 units, valued at RM414,400, which were allegedly not carried out.
The documents were allegedly submitted to the same administrative assistant on Nov 10, 2023, at the same department.
The offence for the joint charge falls under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(2) of the same Act, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Azhier Farhan Arisin represented the couple, who are on bail.
