While adhering to the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said public service protocols required Halim to temporarily vacate his office.

“While his case is ongoing in court, he will not report for duty,” Loke told reporters after a programme at the road transport department station along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway today.

Loke was asked whether Halim had been suspended from duty after claiming trial last week to cheating his predecessor four years ago.

Halim, who was then a secretary in the maritime division of the transport ministry, was accused of deceiving then marine department director-general Baharin Abdul Hamid by producing a letter purportedly from the transport ministry.

The incident allegedly took place at the marine department headquarters in Port Klang on Oct 27, 2020.

The charge was framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating, punishable by five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.