TAWAU: The Sessions Court here yesterday fixed September 21 next year for a senior government officer to face four charges of corruption involving almost RM60,000.
Fatimah Yahya pleaded not guilty to four counts of charges under Section 15(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and under Section 16 of the same Act which provides for a jail term of not less than 14 days and not more than 20 years, and a fine of not more than five times of the amount of bribe or whichever is higher.
Judge Dean Wayne Daly ordered the accused to put up a RM5,000 bail deposited with one local surety and called for her defence against the charges.
According to the charge facts, the accused who is holding the post of a principal of Tawau Community Nursing College, had allegedly used her position to choose a company she has interest and belonging to her husband.
On the first count, Fatimah is accused of using her position by choosing Syarikat Perdagangan Sri Mutiara (PSM) as a supplier of items valued at RM5,100 through government orders dated August 13, 2008 for the purpose of celebrating a local precept course at the college.
On the second count, she is accused of using her position by choosing the same company to supply and prepare food and drinks worth RM24,000 in conjunction with the college’s induction course on the same day.
On the third count, the accused was alleged to have used her position by choosing the same company to prepare food and drinks worth RM6,000 for VVIPs in conjunction with the Sabah zone level convocation ceremony on October 21, 2008.
She was alleged to have committed the offence on September 22, 2008 at the college.
On the fourth count, the accused was charged with abusing her position to choose PSM to prepare food and drinks worth RM15,000 for trainers and participants at the same ceremony on October 21, 2008.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuting officer Michael Joimin prosecuted the case.