Kota kinabalu: A married couple pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to multiple charges of submitting false claims exceeding RM3.6 million under Sabah's Small and Medium Industry Assistance Programme (BAIKS).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anita Mohamed, 54, and Ang Ka Fat @ Kenny, 57, were accused of submitting falsified documents to the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) between 2022 and 2023. The claims reportedly involved machine supply, food certification services, renovation work, and premise registration, none of which were allegedly delivered.

The first charge involves the couple allegedly abetting a company manager in submitting a set of documents along with 12 supporting documents for a Delivery Order (DO) containing false information, involving RM500,000 under the 2022 BAIKS programme.

The second charge pertains to the 2023 programme and involves the submission of one set of documents and 45 supporting documents for a DO with false details, amounting to claims of RM2.7 million.

Both offences are charged under Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of no less than five times the amount of the false claim or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Additionally, the couple faces a joint charge under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 for allegedly submitting false invoices and 13 supporting documents for a DO worth RM414,400.

The court set bail at RM20,000 with a RM3,000 deposit and one local surety for each individual charge, along with an additional RM20,000 bail under the same conditions for the joint charge. The case is scheduled for mention on Sept 23.