Kota Kinabalu: A company’s project manager was charged in the Special Corruption Court, Friday, with three counts of submitting documents with falsified particulars to deceive the Sabah Public Works Department (PWD) into approving payments totalling RM46.8 million for infrastructure projects in the city.
Victor Voo Chung Sain, 50, who appeared before Judge Jason Juga, pleaded not guilty to committing the offences at the PWD here between Dec. 30, 2016 and April 24, 2018.
The charges stated that the accused allegedly submitted the documents to the Sabah PWD to obtain payment for the construction of the flyover and third lane project in Kota Kinabalu specifically for the intersections of (i) Jalan Lintas/Jalan Kolam and (ii) Jalan Tuaran mile 5 1/2).
On the first charge, Voo is accused of inserting false details in the Billed Items statement dated Dec. 30, 2016 – as part of interim payment amounting to RM394,915.56 for the project.
Voo in the second charge, allegedly inserted false details in the Billed Items statement dated July 31, 2017 – in an interim payment totaling RM425,293.68.
On the third charge, Voo is accused of inserting a forged signature in a Site Measurement document dated 24 April 2018, and submitted to PWD for the purpose of trying to get payment of the total contract valued at RM46,028,504.04.
According to the prosecution, the accused at that time was the project manager of a company.
Each charge under Section 471 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 468 of the same Code, carries a jail term of up to seven years’ and a fine on conviction. Jason fixed April 14 for mention of the case.
The judge released the accused on a bail of RM15,000, with RM8,000 deposited in one surety with additional conditions – to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) once every two months, surrender his passport and not to tamper with the prosecution witnesses.
Earlier, the prosecution, in requesting another mention date, proposed bail at RM15,000 with RM10,000 to be deposited, citing all the relevant conditions.
Voo’s defence counsel requested a lower bail amount, suggesting RM2,000 for each charge, stating that Voo has a permanent home in the area, is married with two children, and is currently employed as an engineer with another company.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuting officer Rekhraj Singh prosecuted, while the accused was represented by counsel Datuk Ram Singh and Prem Elmer Ganasan.
