A former Kelantan financial officer was today charged in the Kota Bharu Sessions Court for abetment in false claims involving projects involving the Istana amounting to RM267,960 in December 2009.

The former officer Shkori Mohammad, 57, is accused of committing the offence when Yusri Che Noh, 39, forwarded a document which contained false details, namely an invoice No. 1302 dated Dec 3, 2008, with billing 'Claim To Supply Materials and Building Work' to build a 'Quail House' at the Diraja Banggol project site in Kota Bharu with a size of 7,656 square feet with a cost of RM267,960.

Shkori is charged for abetment in the claim as when the claim document was handed to him at the State Treasury office here in December 2008, the 'Quail House' project had not been carried out.

Shkori is charged under Section 11(c) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and can be sentenced under the same act read together with Section 109 of the Penal Code (Act 574), that carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of bribery or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Judge Zainal L Salleh allowed Shkori bail of RM20,000 with one surety and ordered his passport to surrended to the court and set March 2 and 3 for mentioning of the case.

Zainal agreed to Shkori's case to be heard together with case of Yusri who is a contractor and who was charged on Jan 13 with committing five offences involving false invoices and government orders involving projects of the palace and the state government.

Among others Yusri is charged for forwarding an invoice of Yus Construction & Trading to Shkori on March 3, 2009 that had false details for supply and tar works of the parking lot of Istana Negeri with the size of 2,436 square metres at the cost of RM27 a metre involving a claim of RM65,772.

Shkori was represented by lawyer Abdul Aziz Derashid while the prosecution was done by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutors Ng Yuun Yiing and Izani Wan Ishak.

Also present as lawyer holding a watching brief for Istana Kelantan was Shukri Mohammad.

Abdul Aziz when met by reporters said he would make a representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers for the charge to be withdrawn.

- Bernama