PUTRAJAYA: Former Negeri Sembilan Veterinary Department director Datuk Dr Noor Soeraya Norsham was sentenced to two years jail by the
Court of Appeal here today on charges of fraudulently using forged documents as genuine.
A three-member panel chaired by Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Raus Md Sharif dismissed her final appeal on her conviction but allowed her appeal to reduce her jail term from four years to two years.
In his ruling, Justice Raus said that Dr Noor Soeraya, 42, had knowledge that the document she had used was not genuine.
“We agree with the High Court judge that there was overwhelming evidence that she knew or had reason to believe that the documents were not genuine but she nevertheless used it for her financial advantage,” he said.
Justice Raus, who presided on the panel with Court of Appeal judges Datuk Linton Albert and Datuk Zakaria Sam, had sentenced Dr Noor Soeraya to two years jail for each of the four charges she was convicted but ordered her sentences to run concurrently.
The court also maintained the RM10,000 fine imposed by the High Court on Dr Noor Soeraya for each charge.
On Feb 21 last year, the High Court set aside Dr Noor Soeraya’s acquittal and found her guilty on three alternative charges and one principle charge of submitting forged letter of promotion and confirmation to her job grades to fraudulently claim salary and allowance adjustments.
The High Court had sentenced her to four years jail for each charge but ordered her to serve her sentences concurrently.
She is accused of committing the offences at the state veterinary office in Jalan Pantai, Seremban and at the veterinary administrative division at Lot 1504, Mukim Pantai, Batu 6, Jalan Jelebu, Seremban between March 16, 2009 and July 24, 2011.
Dr Noor Soeraya was initially acquitted by the Sessions Court in Seremban at the end of the defence case but on the prosecution’s appeal, the Court of Appeal reversed the Sessions Court’s decision and subsequently convicted and sentenced her to jail.
She was represented by lawyer Faiz Fadzil while deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) Afifah Yusof appeared for the prosecution.-Bernama