KOTA KINABALU: A company owner claimed trial at the Special Corruption court here over a false claim amounting to RM315,600 under the Penjana Kerjaya 1.0 programme.
Bakruni Juani, 37, pleaded not guilty to the primary and alternative charges before Sessions Court judge Jason Juga.
The main charge stated that Bakruni had allegedly entered 63 employees' names of Aquamiste Legacy into the Penjana Kerjaya 1.0 with the intention to deceive and mislead the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) to claim the incentives under the programme amounting to RM315,600.
Some of the names submitted were not the Aquamiste Legacy employees.
He allegedly committed the offence between Nov 26, 2020 and June 25, 2021, at the Employment Insurance Scheme (EIS) Unit, Socso.
The offence under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC) 2009, punishable under Section 24 (2) of the same Act 2009, provides for a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine of five times the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
On the alternative charge, Bakruni was accused of submitting a forged document, 1Borang Pengesahan Pekerja' for Aquamiste Legacy when applying for the Penjana Kerjaya 1.0 hiring incentive programme.
The alleged offence took place on Jan 12, 2021, at the same place.
The offence under Section 471 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 465 of the same Act, provides a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The court fixed Jan 16 for pre-trial case management.
Bakruni, whom counsel Rahimah Majid represented, was granted bail of RM10,000 with an RM2,000 deposit under a local surety.
The court also ordered him to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office once every two months, his passport to be surrendered to the court, and not to harass any prosecution witnesses pending the disposal of the case.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Nurul Izzati Sapifee prosecuted.