Four people were yesterday charged with cheating a ministry and three statutory boards by inflating the expenditure on Hari Raya decorative lights.
Three of the four charged were former members of the Malay-Muslim community organisation Majlis Pusat — its former secretary-general Saharudin Kassim, Gazaly Malek and Abdul Ghani Tahir. Local businessman Salleh Sam was the fourth to be charged.
They face between five and 11 charges of abetting to cheat the then Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Singapore Tourism Board, National Population and Talent Division and the Tote Board by inflating the expenses in amounts ranging from S$130,768 to S$351,241 in 2011 and 2012.
Saharudin was also accused of conspiring with Abdul Ghani and Gazaly to falsify the income and expenditure statement of Majlis Pusat’s Hari Raya light-up and celebrations in 2011 — and again in 2012 with Gazaly — inflating the expenses as a result.
In total, the ministry and statutory boards disbursed S$914,511 to Majlis Pusat for the lights.
Source: www.todayonline.com
