BUTTERWORTH: A teacher was charged at the Sessions Court here today with two counts of abuse of power.
Hazlina Kasah, 46, claimed trial to the charges which were read to her before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.
She is alleged to have used her position as the head of physical education of SMK Pokok Sena to submit a request note to the school to appoint Hazwan Event Management, a company that she owns, to provide the school supplies.
The supplies would include 10 units of A4 paper, 30 units of marker pens, a radio, a blood pressure machine, three compasses, two weighing machines, a trampoline and 10 units of coloured paper totalling RM2,353.66.
She allegedly committed the offence at the school's management office on Oct 17, 2017.
On the second count, Hazlina is alleged to have submitted a request note to the school for the purchase of five footballs and one futsal ball from the same company for RM522.66.
She allegedly committed the offence at the school's management office on Oct 19, 2017.
The two charges were framed under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commision (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
The offence carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor from the MACC, Muhamad Azlan Basri, told the court that the offence was non-bailable.
"However, if the court wishes to grant bail, there are conditions we would like to suggest, including bail set at RM10,000 and for the accused to surrender all her travel documents to the court as well as to report at the nearest MACC office once a month.
"As the witnesses in this case are former colleagues of the accused, it is advised that she does not contact or disturb them until the case ends," he added.
In mitigation, Hazlina pleaded for a lighter bail, saying that she is a mother of five, aged between 9 and 20, who are all still studying.
Zulhazmi then set bail at RM8,000 with one surety and told Hazlina to surrender all her travel documents to the court.
"You are to report to the nearest MACC office every month and not allowed to disturb any of witnesses in this case," he said.
Zulhazmi then fixed June 27 for case mention.