IPOH (Bernama) – A former vice-chancellor of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of power abuse.
Prof Datuk Dr Zakaria Kasa, who was clad in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) lock-up uniform, made the plea before Judge S. Indera Nehru.
On both counts, Zakaria, who was then the chairman of the UPSI Executive Management Meeting, was alleged to have used his position to approve the appointment of his son, Mohd Fauzi, and daughter-in-law, Siti Nooraishah Mansor, as a contract staff for the post of Grade J41 Engineer (Civil) and Grade FT17 technician, respective, at the university.
Both the offences were allegedly committed at the Chancellery Building at UPSI between 9 am and noon on Oct 8, 2014.
The charges were framed under Section 23 of the MACC Act which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Zakaria was allowed bail of RM15,000 in one surety for both charges .
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor from MACC, Nurul Wahida Jalaluddin, while Zakaria was unrepresented.
The court set Dec 7 for mention.
-BERNAMA
