A former Chief Assistant Secretary of the Corporate Communications Division (BKK), Melaka Chief Minister’s Department, was charged at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court today with seven counts of misappropriation and cheating involving more than RM60,000.
D Puhnitha Devi, 43, pleaded not guilty after all charges were read before Judge Elesabet Paya Wan.
On three charges, she is accused of misappropriating funds belonging to the Melaka Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Association (PTD) and contributions collected for the Melaka-level MADANI Aidilfitri Celebration 2024, involving a total of RM56,600. The offences were allegedly committed on March 24 and April 7, 2022, at the Bank Islam branch in Ayer Keroh.
The charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, caning, and a fine upon conviction.
Puhnitha also faces four additional cheating charges involving three individuals, including two state executive councillors (EXCO), related to fundraising for a Family Day programme and annual performance targets for the BKK under the Chief Minister’s Department, which were allegedly never held.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Sharina Farhana Nor Sa’ari proposed bail of RM30,000 with one surety, along with additional conditions requiring the accused to report to the MACC office once a month and surrender her passport to the court until the case is concluded.
Defence counsel Intan Nur Alia Nodzri requested a lower bail, stating that her client has been unemployed for the past year while caring for her ailing parents and is financially supported by her younger brother.
The court later allowed bail of RM15,000 with one surety, along with the additional conditions requested by the prosecution, and fixed August 3 for mention of the case for document submission.
