Selangor Journal
A Court’s gavel. — Picture via UNSPLASH

Businessman pleads not guilty to making false claims worth over RM1.4 mln

SHAH ALAM, Jan 13 — A businessman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to nine charges of submitting false documents to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to claim incentives under the Penjana Kerjaya Programme 2.0 totalling over RM1.4 million.

M. Karthikesan, 44, is accused of submitting documents containing false information under Profit Sonata Sdn Bhd dated May 4, May 20, May 26 and June 21, 2021, to Socso to claim RM1,448,240 under the employment programme.

He is accused of deceiving Socso as he claimed the documents contained a list of workers who were employed by the company.

Karthikesan allegedly committed the offence at Wisma Perkeso in Petaling Jaya here between May 22 and June 25, 2021.

The charges were framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same act that carries an imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the false details or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Judge Rozilah Salleh granted him RM70,000 bail with one surety and ordered him to surrender his passport.

The court also fixed February 13 for mention.

MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry prosecuted the case while the accused was represented by lawyer Vijaya Sandran.

— Bernama

Top Picks

Plane crash: Pilot, trainee identified

Malaysia’s press freedom ranking ‘not that bad’, says minister

Two survive after light aircraft crashes in Sungkai