By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Sept 29: A tuai rumah claimed trial to charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and misusing RM35,000 belonging to the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) account.
Alex Libau, 58, who was charged with one main charge and an alternative charge, pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Sessions Court Judge Steve Ritikos allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties.
The judge also fixed October 13 for mention of the case.
For the main charge, Alex was charged with CBT involving RM35,000 which was meant to fund the upgrade of roads in his village.
He was charged under Section 405 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 406 of the same Code, which carries imprisonment not exceeding 10 years and with whipping and with fine, upon conviction.
As for the alternative charge, the accused was charged with misusing RM35,000 from the JKKK account of the said village.
For the alternative charge, he was charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment term between six months and five years and with whipping and with fine, upon conviction
He was charged with committing both acts in a bank in Serian, between 8.30am to 12.30pm on October 23, 2018.
Upon investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the funding of RM35,000 involved in this case was found to be for a Minor Rural Project (MRP) to upgrade the roads of the said kampung. The said RM35,000 had been credited into the account of the Kampung Ensenbang Kuari Baru JKKK.
However, the accused was charged with withdrawning the said money from the JKKK account to pay for a front payment of a 5-tonne lorry for his own use.
MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Nisla Abdul Latif prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsel Jonathan Tay. — DayakDaily
