Ex-MIC vice-president, son charged with submitting false claims
KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC vice- president Tan Sri S Balakrishnan and his son were charged in separate Sessions Court here yesterday for submitting false claims in connection with Sungai Melaka beautification and restoration project, costing nearly RM13 million, four years ago.
However, Balakrishnan, 63, and B Ashok Kumar, 31, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In theSessions Courtbefore judge Allaudeen Ismail, Balakrishnan was charged with submitting false claims of RM12,888,000 relating to the supply of some 358 units of ‘dewatering container’ for the project, when actually only 89 units of the items were supplied.
The claims were submitted through a quantity surveyor of Sinnayah & Sons Sdn Bhd to the Malaysian Drainage and Irrigation Department director with an intention to deceive the department concerned.
Balakrishnan, who is director of the company, was alleged to have committed the offence between April 27, 2012 and Oct 23, 2013 at Pejabat Bahagian Projek Khas, Ibu Pejabat JPS at Jalan Sultan Salahuddin here.
The charge, under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC) Act 2009, provides for an imprisonment up to 20 years and fine not less than five times the amount of the false claims, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Balakrishnan was allowed bail of RM500,000 in two sureties and ordered to surrender his passport to the court, but allowed to request for its return when he needed it.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor from MACC, S Thangavelu, who prosecuted, requested bail for RM1 million.
However, lawyer John Dass, representing Balakrishnan, requested bail at RM250,000 with two sureties, on grounds that his client was still supporting two children and a wife, as well as having heart problems.
Meanwhile, Ashok, who is project manager of the company, was charged before judge Azura Alwi with abetting his father in committing the offence.
Azura also set bail at RM500,000, but allowed Ashok to use land titles owned by his family members as collateral for the purpose.
She allowed the prosecution’s request for both cases to be heard jointly and fixed Aug 28 for mention and submission of documents.
Earlier, Ashok’s lawyer, A Ashok asked the court’s permission for his client to use land titles belonging to his family members as collateral for bail as his bank accounts had been frozen. — Bernama