KOTA KINABALU: A businessman was sentenced to eight days in jail and fined RM48,000 for eight counts of using false documents to make claims amounting to RM172,980 from a government agency.
Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat meted out the sentence on Hassan Ho Abdullah, 36, after he pleaded guilty to all alternative charges today.
The court imposed one-day imprisonment plus a fine of RM6,000, in default of four months' jail for each charge.
However, the custodial sentence were to run concurrently.
On the first to eight counts, Hassan had used fake declarations and verification letters of a company which were submitted together for claims amounting to RM172,980 in 2018.
He had made the claims worth between RM8,100 and RM30,780 from August to November 2018 to the Sabah Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry's Kudat branch on Nov 27, 2018.
The claims were for fuel-supplying works in Kudat from Jan 1, 2018 until Dec 1, 2018.
It was for the 'Community Drumming' project under the National Price Council (MHBN).
The charges under Section 471 of the Penal Code, are punishable under Section 465 of the same Code ,which provides for a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
In mitigation, Hassan who was represented by counsel Amli Nohin asked for leniency saying that the accused was a first time offender, remorseful and has three dependants.
Amli said the accused did not benefit from the false claims as it was not paid.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Rekhraj Singh urged for a deterrent sentence considering the seriousness of the offence as well as the amount involved in the case.
Hassan paid his fines.