A former secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry's finance division, Otman Arsahd, 57, claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to 32 counts of abusing his position and making false claims amounting to RM38.471 million.

Otman ( pix above ) faces 17 charges of making false claims under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, and the remaining 15 charges of abusing his position.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at the National Sports Council office, at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 28, 2012 and Nov 18, last year.

Some of the 15 charges include paying to companies which his family or children have interests.

He is also alleged to have used his position as secretary of the finance division to direct the director-general of the National Sports Council to pay RM2.161 million for four programmes to Dial Ex Sdn Bhd in which his two son's have interests.

For the 17 charges of making false claims, Otman is alleged to have paid a total of RM36.310 million to three companies – Enconic Corporation Sdn Bhd, GPO Essence Sdn Bhd and Gapa Jity Sdn Bhd – for programmes under the ministry and to the deputy youth and sports minister for supplying course equipment.

MACC DPP Amir Nasruddin prosecuted while three lawyers – Farhan Read, Mohd Farid Abdul Aziz and Iszam Kamal Ismail – appeared for Otman.

Sessions Court judge Allaudeen Ismail fixed bail at RM250,000 with two sureties and also ordered Otman to surrender 1.09ha of land as guarantee.

Allaudeen fixed April 21 for mention and ordered Otman to surrender his passport.