Former JKKN Director, Cultural Artist Jailed, Fined For Forgery

KUANTAN, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- A former director and a cultural artist with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) were today sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and fined RM10,000 each by the Sessions Court here after being found guilty of forging documents five years ago.

Judge Sazlina Safie imposed the sentence on Dayang Kartini Awang Bujang, 49, and Mardziana Che Mohd Amin, 39, after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court ordered both accused to serve the jail term from today and ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months’ imprisonment.

However, the court allowed a stay of execution of the jail sentence pending appeal and increased bail from RM10,000 to RM12,000 each, with one surety per accused.

The court also ordered RM980 in seized cash to be forfeited to the Malaysian government, while the passports of both accused were returned.

According to the charge, the two women were accused of acting in concert to forge a payment instruction document related to the supply of deer-head accessories for a departmental cultural group under the name Anas Niaga, involving RM9,920.

The offence was committed at the JKKN office here on June 26, 2020, with knowledge that the services had not been provided by Anas Niaga and that the forged document was used for the purpose of deception.

They were charged under Section 468 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine.

During proceedings, the prosecution sought an appropriate sentence as a deterrent, while the defence appealed for a minimum sentence and a stay of the jail term pending appeal.

-- BERNAMA