A FORMER lecturer in Penang was charged today with cheating his employer, Universiti Sains Malaysia, with fake qualifications to get a job 10 years ago.

N. Thevananthan, 50, claimed trial at a George Town magistrates’ court for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.

He allegedly lied to the USM management and deceived the university by using false documents to get a job as a lecturer on August 15, 2008. He allegedly duped USM to pay him RM195,081.38.

The offence carries a jail term of not less than a year and not more than 10 years, with whipping and liable to fine.

Thevananthan also faced a second charge for allegedly using a doctorate in education certificate from the American University of Maryland, which was believed to be fake.

According to the police report lodged against him by USM’s assistant legal adviser, Thevananthan presented several overseas university certificates in his job application.

After USM received the certificates, a decision was made to hire him. But in June 2011, USM inspected the certificates and found that they were fake. 

According to the facts of the case, Thevananthan, after he was called up by USM to explain, tendered a 24-hour resignation.

Magistrate L. Umma Devi allowed bail at RM17,500 for both charges and fixed April 9 for document submission.

Thevananthan was represented by lawyer M. Athimulan while Inspector Siti Hajar Jaafar prosecuted. – March 8, 2018.