Company director accused of submitting Socso false claims worth RM1.19 million

KUALA LUMPUR - A company director who is offering manpower has pleaded not guilty to the charge of submitting a false claim to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) of more than RM1.19 million.

S Ratah, 54, said this after the charges were read before Judge Suzana Hussain.

The Star Skill Sdn Bhd Company owner was accused of providing an Employment Incentive Programme Employee Verification Form on behalf of the company dated May 3 and 6, 2021.

The document claimed the incentive under the Penjana 2.0 Socso Career Programme worth RM1,194,440 to two employment service officers at Wisma Perkeso, Jalan Tun Razak, here, in May, 2021.

The accused was reported carrying documents containing false claims with names of 12 new workers despite them not being affiliated with Star Skill.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zamry suggested the accused to be set on RM50,000 bail and to fulfill the additional conditions by handing over her passport as well as reporting herself to the nearest MACC department each month.

"The amount is reasonable as the case included a charge that cannot be guaranteed to ensure the accused appears in court for the set date," he said.

Lawyer Tarlochan Singh Dhaliwal who represented the accused pleaded to reduce it on the basis of his client suffering mental health complications with her company going bankrupt.

Suzana after hearing the matter lowered the bail to RM45,000 with a guarantor along with having to fulfill both conditions suggested by the prosecution team.

The court set March 14 for the documents to be surrendered.