THE Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court fined a businessman and a former owner of a computer software company a total of RM230,000 after they pleaded guilty to charges of making false claims for employment incentives under the Penjana Kerjaya programme.

Judge Azura Alwi fined businessman G. Dharmaseelan, 31, RM180,000, in default 20 months’ jail, while Mohd Hamdi Mohamed Zain, 44, was fined RM50,000, in default 10 months in prison.

Dharmaseelan, 31, was charged with deceiving a senior accountant at the finance division of the Social Security Organisation (Socso), Rahil Sapura Mustafa, into believing that he had submitted the Employee Verification Form for the Employment Incentive Programme for 60 employees of his company, GSD Resources, when in fact they were not.

This resulted in the Socso officer approving a payment voucher dated November 10, 2021, amounting to RM86,240 into the bank account of GSD Resources, which she would not have done if she had not been deceived by him.

The offence, under section 417 of the penal code, was committed at Menara di Menara Perkeso, Jalan Ampang on November 10, 2021.

Hamdi was charged with using a false document, which is an employee verification form under his company name Synergy Communication Technology Sdn Bhd, for the Employment Incentive Programme amounting to RM45,600 under the Penjana Kerjaya scheme.

In doing so, he deceived Socso officer Mira Sabriena Romain.

He was charged with committing the offence at Wisma Perkeso, Jalan Tun Razak on March 31, 2021.

The charge, under section 471 of the penal code, carries a maximum prison sentence of two years or a fine or both.

Deputy public prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin and prosecuting officer Afiqah Ab Razak from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuted, while lawyer T.P. Aravind Raj represented Dharmaseelan.

Hamdi was unrepresented. – Bernama, October 3, 2023.