Malay NGO's ex-staff charged with cheating

Three former officers of the Malay-Muslim non-governmental organisation Majlis Pusat, and the vendor for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri light-up projects were charged yesterday with inflating expenses incurred for the celebrations.

They each face between five and 11 charges, including conspiracy to cheat.

Majlis Pusat's former secretary-general and president, Saharudin Kassim, 52, and former manager Gazaly Malek, 59, a Canadian, are facing 10 charges each.

They allegedly schemed with Majlis Pusat's then finance secretary Abdul Ghani Tahir, 50, and vendor Salleh Sam, 49, in 2011 to cheat the Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore Totalisator Board, National Population and Talent Division and the then Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports by inflating the expenses of Majlis Pusat.

Salleh, who was the manager of MCC Events and Production and 7M Natural Sources, was the appointed vendor for the events.

Court documents showed that inflated expenses ranging from around $130,000 to $350,000 were submitted to each government agency.

Saharudin, Gazaly and Salleh are said to have inflated the expenses for the 2012 light-up in Geylang Serai in a conspiracy to cheat the Tote Board and the government agencies. Saharudin, Gazaly and Abdul Ghani were also charged with conspiring to falsify the income and expenditure statement of the 2011 Hari Raya light-up and celebrations of Majlis Pusat by $349,570. Saharudin and Gazaly are also accused of similarly falsifying the income and expenditure statement the following year.

Salleh, an undischarged bankrupt, is also said to have taken part in the management of MCC Events and Production and 7M Natural Sources between July and August 2012 without the leave of the High Court or written permission from the Official Assignee. He also allegedly took part in managing MCC Makan Place during the period.

Mr Hamidul Haq is the lawyer for the three former officers while Mr F. H. Savliwala is Salleh's counsel. Their bail of $40,000 each has been extended and their passports have been impounded.

A pre-trial conference has been set for Feb 26.

elena@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on January 9, 2015.
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