Payments for ministry’s programs must follow SOP, graft trial told

KUALA LUMPUR: A witness told the Sessions Court here that any payment for various programmes organised by the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) should be issued with written instructions and follow the standard operating procedure (SOP).

National Sports Council (NSC) Corporate and International Division director Abdul Rashid Yaakub, 53, however, said the written instructions need not necessarily come from only one individual.

“Payment instructions are not necessarily from the KBS secretary-general only, can also be from other parties such as state Youth and Sports Department head and minister himself,” he said during cross-examination by lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali who represented the accused Otman Arsahd.

Otman, 58, former secretary at the Finance Division of the Youth and Sports Ministry, was charged with 32 counts of abusing his position and submitting false claims for payment involving RM38.4 million, four years ago.

Abdul Rashid, who served as NSC Finance director at the time of the alleged offences, was the 27th prosecution witness.

Otman was alleged to have committed the offences at the NSC office, the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil here, between Feb 28, 2012, and Nov 18, 2015.

On the 15 charges of abusing his position, Otman is accused of instructing the NSC directorgeneral to pay RM2,161,000 to Dial Ex Sdn Bhd, owned by his two sons, purportedly for organising various programmes for the ministry, among them Futsal 2012 and F1 2013.

The charge under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

On the 17 charges of submitting false claims, Otman is accused of giving a letter through the ministry to Abdul Rashid seeking payment totalling RM36,310,400 to companies allegedly owned by an affiliate, for various ministry programmes. - Bernama

The charge under Section 18 of the same Act carries similar punishment upon conviction.

The hearing before Judge Azura Alwi continues today.