MALAYSIAN Marine Department director-general Mohamad Halim Ahmed was charged in the Sessions Court in Shah Alam today with cheating, resulting in shipping companies bringing heavy-grade oil into Malaysian waters without the approval of the Transport Ministry four years ago.
Halim, 57, who is the former secretary of the Maritime Division at the Transport Ministry, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Datuk Anita Harun.
He is charged with cheating his predecessor Datuk Baharin Abdul Hamid by giving him a letter from the Transport Ministry dated Oct 27, 2020, which stated “The transport minister on Oct 22, 2020, has decided that the period for shipping companies to be granted exemptions to bring ‘heavy grade oil’ into Malaysian waters needs to be maintained according to the approved date” when no such approval was given.
This prompted Baharin to issue an exemption letter to the shipping companies concerned, which he would not have done if he had not been deceived.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Marine Headquarters, Malaysian Marine Department, Jalan Limbungan, Port Klang, on Oct 27, 2020.
The charge, framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code, provides imprisonment for up to five years or a fine or both.
The court allowed Halim bail of RM20,000 in one surety and ordered him to report himself at the MACC office in Selangor once a month, surrender his passport and not intimidate the prosecution witnesses.
Deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi and Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Farhan Read represented the accused.
Anita set Oct 7 for the submission of documents. – Aug 1, 2024
Main photo credit: Bernama
