Kota kinabalu: A National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) officer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to six counts of submitting false documents to obtain service payments amounting to RM19,440 eight years ago.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the officer, Bakri Bibi, 53, faced charges related to dishonestly using false documents to claim payments for food and beverage services for AADK programmes. The first three charges concern events in Kunak, totaling RM9,700, while the fourth charge pertains to a programme in Tawau, involving RM4,500. The fifth and sixth charges are related to payments for supplying building materials for a community gotong-royong activity in Tawau, valued at RM5,240. These offences allegedly occurred at the Sabah AADK office between August 2018 and April 2019.

The charges were framed under Section 471 of the Penal Code, with penalties enforceable under Section 468 of the same law. If convicted, the accused could face a maximum of seven years' imprisonment and a fine. The prosecution was led by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer Norsham Shaharom, while Bakri was represented by counsel Zahir Shah.

Judge Elsie Primus set bail for the accused at RM30,000 with one local surety. She also mandated that Bakri report to the MACC office bi-monthly, surrender his passport, and refrain from interfering with witnesses or the trial process. The court scheduled the case for re-mention on April 27.