KUCHING: A contractor was sentenced to a day’s jail and fined RM60,000 in default 10 months’ jail for making a false claim from Bau District Office on the cost of SK Segong Bau’s upgrading work six years ago.
The accused Abdul Halik Ali, 39, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Ahmad Azhari Abdul Hamid who convicted him under Section 415 of the Penal Code.
He made the false claim involving government service order amounting to RM30,558 for the school’s repair eventhough the work was incomplete.
The offence was committed at Bau District Office on Jan 19, 2007.
His original charge under Section 11(c) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 provides for not less than 14 days’ jail and not exceeding 20 years’ jail together with a fine not less than five times the sum of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher upon conviction.
The charge was subsequently dropped and he was accused of making a false claim under Section 415 of the Penal Code.
His wife Zunita Sedini, 35, jointly charged with him had his charge dropped as requested by the prosecutor.
According to the facts of the case construction company Syarikat Yusuf Enterprise, owned by Abdul Halik, was granted the upgrading work at the school and made a claim for RM38,558.
However the upgrading works was only 50 per cent complete and not according to specifications.
Yesterday Abdul Halik was released on bail, pending his appeal against the decision in the High Court. Earlier his application for stay of execution was granted by the presiding judge.
Counsel Shamkar Ram Asnani defended the accused while Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer Othman Anyan prosecuted.