Felda admin assistant jailed 13 months, fined RM68,500 for forging cheques

March 24, 2023

Felda admin assistant jailed 13 months, fined RM68,500 for forging cheques

KUANTAN: Mohd Azlan Jainal was entrusted by the Felda management to distribute RM64,734 in ‘khairat kematian’ (death benefits) to settlers at Felda Jengka 12 in Maran about two years ago, but the 36-year-old had other plans.

The Felda administrative assistant, instead issued cheques in his name before claiming to have used the cash to spruce up the settlement to participate in the Felda Village Beautification Award (Anugerah Keceriaan Kampung Felda) and carry out office maintenance works.

However, Azlan’s action landed him in trouble today when the Sessions Court sentenced him to 13 months’ jail and RM68,500 fine in default 29 months’ jail after he pleaded guilty before Judge Datuk Ahmad Zamzani Mohd Zain here.

Azlan, who will spend Hari Raya Aidilfitri behind bars, was charged with falsifying 10 cheques amounting between RM3,970 and RM7,000 which he knew were forged documents by depositing the cash in his bank account.

He committed all the offences between March 26, 2021, and April 30, 2021, at a financial institution at Bandar Tun Abdul Razak Jengka in Maran.

The offence, under Section 471 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 467 of the same Code, provides a jail term of up to 20 years, and a fine, upon conviction.

According to the facts, the 10 cheques amounting to RM64,734 was supposed to be paid to the next-of-kin of settlers who had passed away as their ‘khairat kematian’.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

The father-of-four had forged the signatures of the Felda Jengka 12 manager and supervisor without their knowledge and deposited the cheques into his personal bank account.

In mitigation, Azlan, who was not represented, told the court that he was prepared for his monthly salary to be deducted to repay the money which he owed Felda.

“I plead for a light sentence as I have four children and my wife is not working. I have to repay several loans including my house loan which was approved recently…I do not want to cause any trouble to my friends who are the guarantor for my loans,” he said.

Azlan surprised those in the courtroom when he informed the court that he took the cash (death benefit) not for his own gain but to ensure a smooth administrative process in his office.

“If it was for my personal use, I would have used it to settle my PTPTN (National Higher Education Corporation Fund) and Felda cooperative debts, but I am still paying the loans till today.

Instead, I used the cash for my office (workplace) maintenance.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

“I purchased a payment counter, computer table and cash counting machine as there were errors when the counting process was done manually. I spent the cash to spruce up the settlement and staff quarters to join the Felda Village Beautification Award, which requires a huge fund,” he said, adding he took the responsibility to provide a conducive working environment for the others.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutor Rifah Izzati Abdul Mutalif said it was improper for Azlan to gain easy money by using the settlers’ death benefit funds.

“It is a serious offence to have misused the 10 cheques and public interest should be given priority over the interest of the accused. The punishment should send a strong message to others not to be involved in such activities,” she said.

Ahmad Zamzani ordered all the jail sentences of between eight months and 13 months to run concurrently