Saifulkahar Shariff, 54, pleaded not guilty to using his position as the director of Kolej Poly-Tech Mara (KPTM) in Semporna to approve RM6,797.50 in airline tickets for his wife and children who were not eligible to enjoy such benefits.

Saifulkahar, who is now serving as the continuous education programme director at the KPTM headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, is accused of committing the offences between 2017 and 2018.

The charges were framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

Tawau sessions court judge Awang Krisnada Awang Mahmud fixed April 8 for case management and fixed bail at RM7,000 with one local surety.

The court also instructed the accused to surrender his passport and report to the MACC office once a month. He is also barred from approaching the witnesses.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Izzati Sapifee appeared for MACC while Sitti Nurul Ain Sahidad Pitting represented the accused.