KUANTAN: The Pahang National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) director along with a performing artist claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today after they were charged with falsifying a document two years ago.
Dayang Kartini Awang Bujang, 46, and cultural performer Mardziana Che Mohd Amin, 36, claimed innocence when the charge was jointly read before Judge Datuk Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain.
They were jointly charged with falsifying a document which is a payment order related to providing mouse-deer headgear accessories (set kepala pelanduk) for the department's art group under the name of Anas Niaga worth RM9,920 whereby they had knowledge that Anas Niaga was not involved in such a deal.
The offence was committed at the Pahang JKKN's office here on June 26, 2020.
They were charged under Section 468 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum penalty of seven-years imprisonment, and fine.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Kamariah Seman proposed RM10,000 bail with one surety for each accused.
Lawyer Datuk Syed Azimal Amir Syed Abu Bakar, who represented both the accused, pressed for a lower bail saying Dayang Kartini, who has five children, has been attached to JKKN since 2001.
"My client's take home salary is about RM3,000 a month and she had provided full cooperation during investigations. Since she was only informed to be present in court today, she could not raise the amount as proposed by the prosecution," he said.
Syed Azimal said Mardina earns RM3,000 a month as a cultural artist and has three children while her husband was not working.
Ahmad Zamzani set RM8,000 bail for each accused with one surety and imposed two additional conditions for them to report to the nearest MACC office every month starting January and surrender their international passport until the case is over.
He fixed Feb 22 for mention.
