MELAKA — A married couple pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here today, on charges of misappropriating a cultural grant totaling RM30,000 in the past two years.
Sara Frederica Santa Maria, 57, and her husband, Sikim Gompongan, 60, made the plea before Judge Elesabet Paya Wan.
According to the charge, the couple were jointly charged with dishonestly misappropriating property, namely the Cultural Sector Support Grant (GSSK) allocation of RM30,000 from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for the 2024 De San Pedro Festival Program.
The offence was allegedly committed at a bank in Taman Melaka Raya here, between June 26 and Sept 25, 2024.
The charges were made under Section 403 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which provides for a prison sentence of not less than six months and not more than five years and whipping and may be fined if convicted.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Prosecuting Officer Nur Syakila Yaacob applied for bail of RM20,000 for each accused with one surety and additional conditions, namely surrendering their passports to the court and reporting to the MACC Melaka office once a month.
However, lawyer Cassian Anthony, who represented the couple, applied for the bail to be reduced on the grounds that his client only relies on the money given to them by their four children.
The court then allowed each accused to be bailed at RM7,000 with one surety along with additional conditions as requested by the prosecution.
The court set April 16 for mention of the case.
— BERNAMA
