SHAH ALAM: A professor from Universiti Putra Malaysia's Institute for Mathematical Research (Inspem) claimed trial to 20 charges of submitting false enumerator salary claims worth RM45,366 over four years.
Professor Dr Lee Lai Soon, 49, pleaded not guilty to the charges read out to him before Sessions Court judge Datuk Anita Harun.
Lee was accused of intentionally deceiving eight assistant accountants and treasurers from the university's central operations financial management division.
He was believed to have used documents containing false details to claim the salaries of enumerators, which ranged from RM1,512 to RM5,400 monthly, but the works were non-existent.
He allegedly committed the offences at the Inspem's office at the university in Serdang from October 2019 to June 2022.
The offences come under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and can be punishable under Section 24(2).
It provides a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine not less than five times the false claims sum or RM10,000; whichever is higher upon conviction.
Lee also pleaded not guilty to 20 alternative charges for fraudulently using false documents as genuine to claim for enumerator salaries.
The offence was framed under Section 471 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 465. It carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Anis Najwa Nazari urged the court to set bail at between RM20,000 and RM30,000 with one surety for the accused.
As additional conditions, she asked that the accused report to the MACC office monthly and surrender his passport to the court.
In mitigation, lawyer Chen Woon Yong said the bail should be set at RM10,000 which he said was reasonable and not a burden for his client.
"My client started serving UPM in 2006 and he got his professor-ship in 2021.
"His wife is also a professor and she will be his bailor. They are committed to the academic community.
"He does not have any prior criminal records and he will adhere to all bail conditions that may be imposed," he said.
Anita set bail at RM20,000 with one surety.
She ordered Lee to report to the Putrajaya MACC in the first week of the month, not to harass witnesses and surrender his passport to the court.
Sept 23 is set for mention.