Former company director claims trial to submitting over RM1.2 mln in false claims

However, Gulam Rusol Md Ismail, 57, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Judge Azura Alwi.

According to the charge, Gulam Rusol as the president and director of Natureceuticals Sdn Bhd is alleged to have submitted an application for a refund claim for the purchase of stickpack machines amounting to RM1,225,000 to Nordanial Rohimi an administrative officer at the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry with the intention of deceiving the ministry.

The document contained false details, namely a copy of Nothern Petrochem Sdn Bhd's invoice, a copy of Natureceuticals Sdn Bhd's purchase order, two copies of Maybank payment vouchers and cheques, which was attached, while the stickpack machines were never supplied.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Herbal Development Office, at the Ministry, at Level 2, PjH Gallery Building, Lot 29, Jalan P4W, Precinct 4, Persiaran Perdana, Putrajaya, on Dec 16, 2014.

Meanwhile, a director of the company, Kamaruzzaman Kamaludeen, 47, pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetting Gulam Rusol over the same matter at the same place and time.

Gulam Rusol and Kamaruzzaman were charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of five times the gratification amount or RM10,000.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry appeared for the prosecution while lawyer Rahmat Mohamed Hazlan represented Gulam Rusol and lawyer Nasbal Harun represented Kamaruzzaman.

The court allowed the two accused bail of RM30,000 each with one surety with the additional conditions that they surrender their respective passports to the court and report to the Penang MACC office once a month.

The court set Aug 17 for mention.