KOTA MARUDU: The President of Pertubuhan Rungus Bersatu Sabah, who claimed trial to using his position to obtain a bribe worth RM2 million in connection with the construction of the Rungus Cultural Hall and Gallery, told the court Thursday that the hall had fully completed.
Makinsos Nawai, 67, made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Andi Razalijaya A. Dadi after the charge was read to him.
Makinsos is accused of using his position as president of the organisation to obtain gratification for himself in the form of the RM2 million allocation from the Sabah Ministry of Finance.
The charge stated that he submitted the application for the allocation and proceeded with the construction of the Rungus Cultural Hall and Gallery without obtaining the approval of the organisation’s Supreme Council members, despite having a personal interest in managing both the funding application and the implementation of the project.
He allegedly committed the offence in 2022 at the Rungus Cultural Hall and Gallery site in Kota Marudu.
The charge, under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
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If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The court set Aug 27 for service of documents and released the accused on a bail of RM50,000, with two local sureties.
The court then set the trial for Nov 2 to 4. Makinsos was also ordered to report to MACC’s office once a month, and his passport, if any, to be surrendered to court until the disposal of his case, and not to tamper with the prosecution witnesses.
MACC Prosecuting Officer Norsham Baharom appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Datuk Ram Singh, together with Prem Elmer Ganasan, Prabjit Singh Gill and Ian Vun Chit Khen, defended Makinsos.
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