Kota Kinabalu: The Pertubuhan Rungus Bersatu Sabah President claimed trial in the Sessions Court on Thursday to using his position in connection with a RM2 million allocation for a cultural hall project.
Makinsos Nawai, 67, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Andi Razalijaya A. Dadi after he was charged with obtaining gratification for himself involving the state Finance Ministry funds for the construction of the Rungus Cultural Hall and Gallery in 2022.
The court heard that Makinsos submitted the allocation application and executed the project without obtaining approval from the organisation's Supreme Council members, despite having a personal interest in both the funding application and project implementation.
Judge Andi Razalijaya fixed Aug 27 for document submission and Nov 2–4 for trial, while granting the accused bail at RM50,000 with two local sureties and a RM5,000 deposit.
The accused was also ordered to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once a month, surrender his passport to the court until the disposal of the case, and refrain from tampering with prosecution witnesses.
