Ag Ruzi
KOTA KINABALU (Jan 19): An operation director of a company claimed trial in the Special Court for Corruption here on Thursday to a charge of making false claims for a skills training program.
Ag Ruzi Ag Tahir, 52, who appeared before judge Jason Juga, was charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC) 2009, punishable under Section 24 (2) of the same Act 2009.
The indictment provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Ag Ruzi, who was represented by counsel Arthur Borine, was accused of submitting an invoice dated Jan 25, 2018 which contained false details to the Chief Assistant Director of Sabah State Economic Planning Unit with the intention to deceive his principal on February 23, 2018 at Wisma Sedia, Penampang.
The charge also stated that the false document was allegedly for claiming an implementation of a program in 2017 when in fact the program was allegedly not completely implemented.
The court fixed March 17 for pre-trial case management and released Ag Ruzi on RM100,000 bail with RM20,000 deposit with two local sureties.
The court also imposed additional conditions on Ag Ruzi which was his international passport, if any, to be surrendered to court, to report to the MACC office once in two months and not to disturb the prosecution’s witnesses, pending disposal of the case.