THE Court of Appeal today acquitted and discharged the former general manager of the Terengganu State Farmers’ Organisation (PPNT) on a charge of submitting an invoice containing false information.

The three-panel judge led by Kamaludin Mat Said made the ruling after allowing Che Sa’adon Che Yahya’s appeal to set aside the High Court’s decision, which sentenced him to one year in prison and a fine of RM10,000.

Kamaludin, in the judgment, said Che Sa’adon’s appeal was meritorious because the High Court did not appreciate the minutes of the meeting, which stated that the claims made by Che Sa’adon were technical errors.

Other members of the bench were P. Ravinthran and Abu Bakar Jais.

Che Sa’adon, 58, was charged, as a PPNT agent, for submitting claims of RM1,140 for repairs to the association’s Toyota Fortuner four-wheel-drive vehicle, when in fact, he wanted to repair his Toyota Wish.

The prosecution had said the alleged offence was committed at the PPNT office, Terengganu, on January 25, 2016.

On November 28, 2019, the Sessions Court in Kuala Terengganu similarly found Che Sa’adon not guilty.

However, on February 7, 2021, the prosecution appealed successfully at the High Court.

Che Sa’adon then filed with the Court of Appeal. – Bernama, June 13, 2022.