MELAKA: A businessman was charged today with three counts of submitting false claims worth RM1,123,030 to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) for the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 incentives.

Mohd Eszahar Mansor, 38, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out before judge Elesabet Paya Wan at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court here.

For the first charge, Eszahar, with the intention of deceiving Melaka Perkeso employment service officer Nurshahera Nordin, entered the names of 19 people, purportedly employees of Eszahar Maju Enterprise, into the Penjana Kerjaya 1.0 system at the Melaka Perkeso's Employment Service Officer Unit, on Oct 10, 2020.

For the second and third charges, Eszahar is accused of entering the names of 49 and 35 people, who are not Eszahar Maju Enterprise's employees, into the Penjana Kerjaya 1.0 and 2.0 systems, on Oct 6, 2020, and April 21, 2021, at the same place.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Azriff Firdaus Mohamad Ali proposed bail of RM30,000 for all three charges, with an additional condition that the accused must report to the Negri Sembilan MACC office once a month until the disposal of the case.

Lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork, representing the accused, appealed for a lower bail on the grounds that Eszahar's income was only RM5,000 a month, and he had to support his wife, who is studying, and two school-going children, apart from looking after his parents.

The court allowed bail of RM30,000 in one surety for all three charges and set Feb 10 for mention.

The accused was ordered to report to the Negri Sembilan MACC office once a month until the disposal of the case.

 -Bernama