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KOTA KINABALU: A former Rela officer from Tenom was sentenced to 14 days’ jail and fined RM147,160 for submitting seven false claims during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

Venantius Masingga, 63, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga and claimed during mitigation that the money was used to buy food baskets for fellow Rela members affected by the MCO.

He admitted to using the names of his wife and children - who did not perform any duties - to claim assignment allowances between March 2020 and August 2021.

Although originally facing 18 charges, Venantius only pleaded guilty to seven, with the remaining charges taken into account under Section 171A of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court ordered the jail terms to run concurrently, and Venantius, who was unrepresented and did not pay the fine, expressed remorse and offered to perform community service.