KANGAR: Lawyer Mohd Fadhly Yaacob who is representing Perlis Menteri Besar's son Mohd Syafeeq Mohd Shukri, acknowledged the prosecution's prerogative in charging his client with submitting a false claim.
This charge, he noted, significantly contrasted with earlier media reports following Syafeeq's arrest along with five others last month.
"For me, whatever is contained in the charge sheet reflects what actually transpired today," Fadhly said.
He emphasised the prosecution's burden to prove the elements of the charge, including the RM19,000 amount, the delivery of the drinks, and the evidence to be presented during the trial.
"It is obvious that today's charge is starkly different from what the media previously reported. Regardless, it is the prosecution's prerogative, and we respect that," he told reporters after the court proceedings.
Earlier today, Syafeeq, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charge of submitting false claims for the supply of drinks for the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, worth RM19,505.10 in February.
The charge was read before Judge Norsalha Hamzah.
Syafeeq is accused of submitting a government order document under the name Mohd Farid Abdul Hamid, knowing it contained false details, on Feb 19, 2024.
The claim, worth RM19,505.10, was for drinks allegedly supplied to Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital.
The charge falls under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and is punishable under Section 24(2) of the same Act.
If found guilty, Syafeeq faces up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of no less than five times the amount of the false claim or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
On April 24, it was reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained six individuals, including Syafeeq, to assist in the investigation of infrastructure development projects in Perlis since 2022, totalling RM600,000.