KUALA LUMPUR: A cosmetics company founder was slapped with seven corruption charges for submitting false claims amounting RM120,000 to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) under its Penjana Kerjaya programme two years ago.
Mona Liza Ahmad, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her before judge Kamarudin Kamsun today.
According to the charge sheets, the 38-year-old businesswoman was alleged to have submitted the false applications under her company Nona Chantique Empire which contained false details with the intention to deceive Socso.
She was alleged to have committed both the offences at the Wisma Perkeso near Jalan Tun Razak on May 31, 2021.
The offence falls under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum involved.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin asked the court to impose RM50,000 bail against the accused.
However, Counsel Nor Shafika Balqis Jaffri who appeared for the accused pleaded for minimum bail.
The court set RM30,000 bail and fixed Nov 8 for mention.
Meanwhile, in the same court, a company director S. Kamala Segaran was also charged with three counts of the same offence involving RM36,780 three years ago.
The 47-year-old accused claimed trial for all charges.
Kamala Segaran who managed Aksara United Management Sdn Bhd is accused of conspiring with project coordinator L. Guhan by directing the man to deceived Socso of RM9,600 on Oct 23, 2020.
He was charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum prison term of five years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The accused was also slapped with two counts of submitting forged documents with false information to claim RM27,180 under the Hiring Incentive Programme for three employees.
MACC prosecuting officer Raymond Nion John asked the court to impose RM30,000 bail against the accused.
The accused lawyer V. Saravanan pleaded for minimum bail by stating that his client has been declared bankrupt since 2014.
The court set RM15,000 bail with one surety and fixed Nov 8 for mention.