Azlan Man Not Entitled To Reimbursement For Cancelled Flights - Witness

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- The Sessions Court was informed today that Datuk Seri Azlan Man was not entitled to claim reimbursement for a cancelled flight, even though his overseas leave entitlement for the current year had been approved and payment had been made to a travel agent.

Tirawud Etam, 40, a former assistant secretary (Corporate Unit) in the Office of the Perlis State Secretary, testified that the funds in question must be returned to the Perlis State Treasury Office.

“If an overseas leave flight is cancelled, the Local Order issued must be revoked by the Responsibility Centre, and if a ticket has already been issued to the Menteri Besar (Azlan) and he cancels the flight, he is not permitted to receive any reimbursement,” he said. 

The 16th prosecution witness was reading his witness statement during the trial of the former Perlis Menteri Besar, who faces ten charges of submitting false claims and receiving proceeds from unlawful activities.

Tirawud, who now serves as Head of the Road Safety and Corporate Unit at the Road Transport Department, further stated that in accordance with the Malaysian Treasury Circulars and other prevailing regulations, payment for overseas travel services for the Menteri Besar should not be made if the actual trip did not take place.

He testified that payment for overseas travel services, if rendered, is to be made directly to the company supplying the service.

“To my knowledge, payment is issued only after the service has been fully rendered and verified by the Responsibility Centre, based on the supporting documents submitted,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Alis Izzati Azurin Mohd Rusdi.

The witness, who had known the former Menteri Besar of Perlis during his tenure at the Perlis State Secretary’s Office in 2014, clarified that no payment may be authorised by the Responsibility Centre for any supply or service that was not actually performed.

“This is because payment is processed via a Local Order issued to the supplier or company by the Responsibility Centre, accompanied by duly verified supporting documentation,” he affirmed.

During today’s proceedings, Tirawud also authenticated a copy of a quotation dated Nov 20, 2014, issued by Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd to Azlan’s senior private secretary, amounting to RM216,260.

The witness further verified a series of quotations from Sri Kedawayang Travel for RM241,295.40 dated Nov 26, 2015, and from Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd for RM253,195.40 dated Dec 14, 2016, and RM268,993.28 dated Oct 17, 2017.

“I confirm that these documents pertain to quotations submitted by travel agents for return flight tickets and accommodation to London,” he testified.

Azlan, 67, faces five charges related to fraudulent claims for overseas travel facilities exceeding RM1.18 million, allegedly committed at the Perlis State Secretary’s Office between December 2013 and December 2017, involving quotations for flight tickets to London, United Kingdom, as well as invoices from Sri Kedawang Travel and Aidil Travel & Tours.

These charges were brought under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694), which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the false claims or RM10,000, whichever is higher. upon conviction.

Azlan faces five additional charges of receiving RM1.06 million in proceeds from unlawful activities between Feb 19, 2014, and December 2017 at several locations, including a Maybank branch on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, a CIMB Bank branch in Putrajaya, and the Sheraton Imperial Hotel. 

He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds of the illegal activity or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

He is also accused of five alternative counts of allegedly misappropriating RM1.06 million in state funds paid to Sri Kedawang Travel and Aidil Travel & Tours.

These charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment for up to five years, caning and shall also be liable to a fine upon conviction.

The trial before Judge Azura Alwi resumes on Sept 26. 

-- BERNAMA