KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court increased to RM43,125 the fine to be paid by each four Mara education officers who were convicted of supplying false information over air tickets to Japan.
Judge Kamardin Hashim increased the fine today when he denied an appeal by the four Yayasan Pelajaran Mara (YPM) officers to set aside their conviction, three-year jail term and RM10,000 fine.
However, he allowed an application by the appellants' counsel M. Haresh to stay execution of the fine and jail sentence pending appeal.
The appellants were YPM Coordinating Unit-Higher Education Fund manager Noraidah Johar, 45; Higher Education Fund Unit III assistant finance manager Muhammad Suhaimi Ismail, 46; Administration and Personnel assistant manager Zolkefli Mohd Ali, 50; and Student and Academic Affairs assistant manager Nurmawati Redzwan, 48.
On Nov 12, 2013, the Sessions Court convicted the appellants, ruling that they had given false information via the use of two undated documents.
These two documents were a summary of claim/settlement of down payment for an official overseas trip in 2010 and an official receipt for RM12,125 issued by Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd.
They were found to have approved payment of RM12,125 for business class travel to Japan when in fact it should have been for economy class costing just RM3,500.
The offence happened at YPM’s finance division office here between May 18, 2010 and June 3, 2010.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC) deputy public prosecutor Afifah Yusof appeared for the MACC, the respondent during today's proceedings.