THE Butterworth Sessions Court today fined a company manager RM45,000 for cheating the Social Security Organisation (Socso) by submitting false claims under Penjana Kerjaya 3.0 programme amounting to RM22,880 two years ago.

Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah handed down the sentence on Muhammad Al-Bukhari Abdullah, 38, after he pleaded guilty to two of the four charges made against him.

According to the charge sheet, Al-Bukhari, who is a manager at Vshine Metal & Plastic Trading Company, was charged with cheating Socso by submitting the names of individuals who were not the company’s employees for incentives under Penjana Kerjaya 3.0 programme.

This prompted Socso to transfer RM9,280 and RM13,600 into the company’s account.

Al-Bukhari was charged with committing the offences at the Penang Socso office, on November 22 and December 5, 2021 respectively.

Both charges were framed under section 417 of the penal code, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of five years or a fine, or both, if found guilty.

Zulhazmi fined him RM10,000, in default of three months in jail for the first offence, and RM35,000, in default of six months in jail for the second offence. – Bernama, August 25, 2023.