JOHOR BARU: A 44-year-old former mosque treasurer was charged at the Sessions Court here with misappropriating mosque money worth RM12,000 two years ago.

Syaharullah Ismail pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail on Monday (March 4).

The treasurer of Masjid Al-Ubudiah Kampung Sri Machap in Kluang allegedly misappropriated RM12,000 belonging to the mosque at a bank in Jalan Dato’ Kapten Ahmad at 9.16pm on Nov 12, 2022.

The case is framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code for dishonest misappropriation of property, which carries a jail term of not less than six months and not more than five years with whipping or a fine upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Nur Zahida Muhammad Rozi, while the accused was represented by K. Bharati.

During the proceeding, Nur Zahida requested bail to be set at RM10,000 with one surety, along with an additional term for the accused to report to the MACC office in Kluang once a month.

In mitigation, Bharati requested lower bail as the accused works as a lorry driver, only earns about RM1,500 a month and is currently taking care of his wife and three children.

She also informed the court that Syaharullah could only afford to pay RM5,000 as bail.

The court then allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety, along with the additional term.

The court had also set April 8 for the next mention of the case.

The accused posted bail.