Two Workshop Owners Charged With Submitting False Claims

Two workshop owners pleaded not guilty in separate sessions courts here today to submitting false claims regarding the supply of gear boxes for Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars belonging to the Terengganu government.

The accused were Tor Kok Siong, 52, who runs a workshop in Bukit Kecil and Choong Yuen Sang, 48, of Chendering.

Tor who was represented by lawyer Osman Bakar, was alleged to have submitted four claims between Nov 2006 and June this year regarding the supply of gear boxes worth RM18,057.68 each for the cars bearing plate numbers TAG 8778, TAG 7979, TT 3 and TT 7 at the Terengganu State Secretary Office when no such items had been supplied.

The father of two was charged under Section 11(c) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and if convicted, he would be liable to imprisonment of between 14 days and 20 years and fine of not less than five times the sum.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sophian Zakaria from the Anti-Corruption

Agency asked the court to impose a RM20,000 bail on Tor on each count on the ground that the accused had deceived the state government.

Osman, however, objected to Sophian's recommendation, saying that the court should not impose such an amount to penalise his client but ensure that justice would prevail.

In his case, he said, Tor would not run away because he had been staying in Terengganu for a long time and had a business and family here.

Judge M. Bakri Abd Majid allowed Tor bail of RM5,000 on each count and fixed Dec 23 and 24 for trial.

In another court, Choong was charged with committing a similar offence on Aug 2 last year at the same place for supply of a gear box worth RM19,119.91 for the car with registration number TAK 415.

He was represented by lawyer Siti Saleha Mohd Tahir while the prosecution was conducted by Sophian.

Judge Mohammad Khalid Abd Karim allowed Choong bail of RM7,000 and fixed Dec 14 for trial.