FORMER Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man was this morning charged with five counts of submitting false claims for RM1.18 million in flight tickets, accommodation and transport costs in the United Kingdom.

The offences – under section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 – allegedly took place between 2013 and 2017, when he was the menteri besar in an Umno-led administration.

He claimed trial before Kangar Sessions Court judge Norsalha Hamzah.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted while lawyers Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid and Ramli Shariff represented Azlan.

In the first charge, Azlan was accused of falsely claiming RM230,230 in respect of return flight tickets, hotel stay and transport in London between December 20, 2013 and January 4, 2014.

In the second charge, he was accused of falsely claiming RM216,260 for return flight tickets to London and hotel stay between November 20, 2014 and December 18, 2014.

Thirdly, he was accused of falsely claiming RM241,295 for return flight tickets to London and hotel stay between November 30, 2015 and December 21, 2015.

In the fourth charge, Azlan was accused of falsely claiming RM253,195 for return flight tickets to London and hotel stay between November 8, 2016 and December 29, 2016.

In the final charge, he was accused of falsely claiming RM244,079 for return flight tickets to London and hotel stay between November 8, 2017 and November 30, 2017.

According to the charge sheet, Azlan made the claims despite there being no actual travel.

He claimed trial and was granted bail of RM50,000 in one surety. He was also ordered to surrender his passport to court. – April 10, 2023.