Bernama reported that Sharudin Ibrahim, 50, who works at the Jelebu health office, entered his plea before judge N Kanageswari.

According to 15 of the charges, he allegedly abused his position to obtain gratification totalling RM55,815 through a company belonging to his wife. He had allegedly endorsed payments for various services including maintenance and rental of laptops and desktops, food catering, and boat and houseboat rental.

The offences were allegedly committed at the Jelebu health office between October 2022 and August 2023.

Framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, the charges provide up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of no less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Sharudin also faces 62 counts of submitting falsified documents to claim payments for purchases or services that were never carried out.

These include claims for catering services for internal and external programmes, printing of educational brochures, health pamphlets, guidebooks, buntings and banners, maintenance of medical laboratories and supply of herbicides involving more than RM340,000.

The charges were framed under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, which provides the same penalty. All the offences were also committed at the same place and time.

Sharudin was allowed bail of RM40,000 with one surety for all the charges, ordered to surrender his passport to the court and report to the MACC office every month.

Deputy public prosecutor Fatin Nur Athirah Zainuddin appeared for the prosecution, while Sharudin was represented by lawyer Irham Redzuan.

The court set Dec 8 for mention.