An Assistant Islamic Affairs Officer has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to three charges of submitting false claims involving RM135,000 linked to the re-registration of new converts between 2022 and 2024.
The accused, Mohammad Nurhelmy Norman, 29, who has been suspended from his duties and is currently working as an e-hailing driver, entered a not guilty plea before Judge Datuk Nu’aman Mahmud Zuhudi.
He is alleged to have committed the offences in his capacity as an Assistant Islamic Affairs Officer Grade S29 in the Dakwah Division of the Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs), involving the submission of documents containing false particulars with the intention to deceive his principal.
According to the charge sheet, the offences involve claims for re-registration activities covering two individuals in 2022 amounting to RM3,500, 15 individuals in 2023 totalling RM40,000, and 33 individuals in 2024 amounting to RM91,500.
All alleged offences were said to have taken place at the JAIPs office located at Kompleks Islam Perlis, Persiaran Jubli Emas.
The charges fall under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(2), which provides for a maximum jail term of up to 20 years, along with a fine of at least five times the value of the false claims or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The court granted bail at RM12,000 with one surety and also ordered the accused to report monthly to the MACC office as part of additional conditions.
The court has fixed May 20 for mention to allow for the submission of relevant documents.
Prosecution was conducted by MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Fariz Abdul Hamid, while the accused was represented by lawyer Siti Salwa Ja’afar.
