MELAKA: A businessman claimed trial in the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here today to nine counts of submitting false claims to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) under the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 programme involving RM267,400.

On the first three counts, Mohd Azmi Mat Sah, 55, as the owner of DRAZZ Global Resources, with the intention to deceive Melaka SOCSO, submitted the names of three individuals purported employees of the company to claim incentives under the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 programme amounting to RM13, 200.

He was charged with committing the offences at DRAZZ Global Resources Office, Limbongan Business Complex in the Melaka Tengah district on June 5, 2021.

The charges framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 of the same act, provides for imprisonment of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the claims or RM10,000 whichever is higher, if convicted.

On the fourth to ninth count the accused was charged with dishonestly misappropriating SOCSO Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 incentive funds amounting to RM254,200.

The offences allegedly committed at Maybank Melaka Raya Branch, Taman Melaka Jaya from Aug 3, 2021 until Feb 24, 2022 were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment of not less than six months and not more than five years and with whipping and a fine, if convicted.

Judge Elesabet Paya Wan allowed the accused bail of RM40,000 with one surety and set March 10 for mention.

-- BERNAMA