5 doctors, 2 runners charged over licence scam
Five doctors were charged in several courts in Penang and Perak over a scam that saw them issuing clean bills of health to applicants of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences without examining them.
Two other men, who acted as “runners”, were also brought to court here in connection with the scam.
One doctor, Dr Ding Yong Chaun, 73, pleaded guilty to the offence, while the rest claimed trial.
At the Sessions Court here, the first to arrive were alleged runners Lim Geok Huat, 54, and Chan Ah Kow, 57, about 8.30am. They covered their faces with their T-shirts and were accompanied by four Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) officers.
Dr See Teik Guan, 48, and Dr Kamal Fasha Hussain, 54, arrived separately after they were instructed to attend court by MACC officers. Newsmen were only alerted to their presence when they were charged.
While Lim’s and Chan’s family members were spotted inside the public gallery, no one from Dr See’s and Dr Kamal’s side were present.
Dr See and Dr Kamal were charged with cheating under Section 415 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 28(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009, punishable under Section 417 of the Penal Code. If convicted, they face a maximum of five years’ jail, a fine or both.
Lim and Chan were charged with using forged documents as genuine ones under Section 471 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 465 of the same code, which carries two years’ jail, a fine or both, upon conviction.
MACC prosecuting officer Ahmad Ghazali Muhamad Nadzri requested that the court set bail at RM10,000 each.
C.P. Ang represented Lim, Jason Khor Jit Sheng represented Dr Kamal Fasha and Dr See, while R.S.N. Rayer represented Chan. The counsel all requested for lower bail for their clients.
Judge Nursalha Hamzah set bail at RM6,000 each and fixed July 14 for mention.
In Butterworth , Dr Ding and Dr Lutfi Mohamad Rashidi, 37, were charged with the same offence as the doctors in George Town.
Dr Lutfi, who arrived in court in a hoodie and a face mask, pleaded not guilty and requested trial, while Dr Ding pleaded guilty.
MACC prosecution officer Amin Yakob asked the court to set bail at RM10,000 for each accused.
Lawyer M. Puveneswaran, who represented Dr Lutfi, urged the court to set a lower bail, saying his client had to take care of his young children and pregnant wife. Dr Lutfi is currently a doctor in the remand lock-up.
Dr Ding, who was unrepresented, appealed to the court for a lower bail as he had three critical illnesses — high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic kidney failure. He also told the court he was living alone.
Judge Noor Aini Yusof allowed bail at RM8,000 with one surety for each accused. She also ordered Dr Lutfi to report to the MACC office every month.
She set July 4 to mention Dr Lutfi’s case and June 13 for the Special Corruptions Court to decide on Dr Ding’s sentence.
In Ipoh, Dr S. Samuel Kumar, 59, faced the same charges and claimed trial.
Judge S. Indra Nehru set June 14 for mention, granted RM12,000 bail with one surety, and ordered the accused to report to the nearest MACC office once a month.