IPOH: A headmistress was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court here today for using a forged document to buy a digital piano and bench, three years ago.
The accused, Rosnah Mat Zain, 57, received the sentence after pleading guilty to an alternative charge under Section 471 of the Penal Code.
In his ruling, Judge Datuk Ibrahim Osman ordered the accused to be imprisoned for one month if she failed to pay the fine. The accused has since paid the fine.
According to the charge, Rosnah was accused of using a document, specifically an invoice from a company dated Dec 6, 2021, for a payment to a primary school in Teluk Intan for the purchase of a digital piano and a black bench totalling RM10,200, when the document was actually forged.
The act was committed at the primary school in Teluk Intan on Dec 9, 2021.
For this offence, she was charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code which is punishable under Section 465 of the same code, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
According to the case facts, the accused chose her son-in-law's company for the supply of musical instruments, in which she had an interest.
The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutors Sharul Azuan Ghazali and Maziah Mansor, while the accused was not represented.
After delivering his decision, Ibrahim advised the accused to repent and be cautious in making decisions as a public servant.
"Be careful in making decisions as a public servant. This is just a worldly punishment, not th