A PUBLIC Works Department (PWD) employee today claimed trial to abusing his position to approve a contract worth RM49,200 to a company owned by his daughter. 

Chong Min Hiong@Raymond Chong, 59, today pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Special Corruption Court.

Chong allegedly used his position as quotation assessment committee chairman to approve a contract for JR Enterprise, owned by his daughter Patrecia Chong on October 29, 2010 at the PWD office in Tuaran. 

The contract is for emergency maintenance of Jalan Hamad Kitapol in the same district. 

He is charged under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009.  If convicted he could face a prison term of not more than 20 years, and fined of not less than five times the sum. 

The judge allowed the accused bail at RM10,000, with one local surety. He set RM6,000 to be fully deposited.

The case management is fixed for July 26. 

Counsels Dominic Chew Ban Huat and Luke Ressa Balang represented the accused while Rustam Sanip appeared for the prosecution. – June 20, 2017.