A consulting engineer was charged in a session court in Kuala Terengganu today in connection with the collapse of the roof of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak two years ago.

Wan Manan Wan Ali, 51, pleaded not guilty.

He claimed trial to the charge of acting like an approved checker in issuing a document on the main roof truss system and its associated works, dated Jan 15, 2009, for the proposal to build the main stadium, known as the Terengganu sports complex.

He is alleged to have signed and given the document to state Public Works Department (PWD) director Rosli Zainal and duped state secretary Mokhtar Nong into believing he was the approved checker.

The offence was allegedly committed between Jan 15 and March 29, 2009, at the state PWD office.

The charge under Section 419 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of seven years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Judge M Bakri Abdul Majid fixed March 17 for re-mention and allowed Wan Manan bail of RM10,000 in one surety.

Deputy public prosecutor Syafinas Shabudin, of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, appeared for the prosecution while Wan Manan was represented by Wan Zainuddin Wan Musa.

- Bernama