Perjasa president pleads not guilty to two charges of corruption, faces four more charges

The accused is seen talking to an MACC officer.

By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, May 3: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia Sarawak Staff Association (Perjasa) president is facing six charges of criminal misappropriation of property and using his position for gratification between January 2017 to March 2017, involving RM 91,300.

Mohammad Hishamuddin Sulhi, 40, was charged with one main charge and one alternative charge here today. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The Special Court for Corruption Judge Steve Ritikos fixed May 25 for pre-trial case management and released the accused on court bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties.

For the main charge, the accused as the Perjasa president was charged with using his position for gratification by instructing Norasmah Abu Bakar to issue a cheque dated January 31, 2017, belonging to Perjasa and pay to Muhammad Fadzly Sani, a committee member of Perjasa, amounting RM 4,400 for his own use, at about 2.13pm on January 31, 2017.

He was charged under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24(1)(a) and (b) of the same Act.

For the alternative charge, the accused was charged with dishonestly misappropriating RM4,400 cash for his own use by cashing out the money from the cheque payable to Muhammad Fadzly Sani, which was issued by Perjasa.

He was charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment term of between six months and five years and whipping and with a fine, upon conviction.

DPP Nur Nisla Abd Latif prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented by counsel. — DayakDaily