Sabak Bernam parliamentarian Abdul Rahman Bakri, 44, has today been slapped with eight corruption charges, which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

NONE Abdul Rahman from Umno was accused of making false claims totalling RM80,000 from his constituency allocation for a series of allegedly non-existing events.

These claims were made between Jan 21 and Feb 4, 2008, just before the March 8 general election.

The alleged claims were made when he was Sungai Ayer Tawar assemblyperson.

The eight charges are:

1) False claim of RM10,000 for a SPM students programme where he purchased gifts, souvenirs and hired caterers.

2) False claim of RM10,000 for a PMR students programme.

3) False claim of RM10,000 for a UPSR/PMR/SPM students programme.

4) False claim of RM10,000 for Program Mesra Rakyat and Maulud Nabi events.

5) False claim of RM10,000 for a UPSR motivation course.

6) False claim of RM10,000 for a Kemas Family Day.

7) False claim of RM10,000 for another Mesra Rakyat Programme.

8) False claim of RM10,000 for a Forum Perdana programme.

Jail term and fine

For each of the charges under the Anti Corruption Act 1997, he stands to face a minimum 14 days jail or 20 years jail term, and fined five times the amount of gratification he received.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director of prosecution Abdul Razak Musa applied for bail to be set at RM30,000 to ensure the parliamentarian's attendance in the court hearing.

Lawyer Sallehuddin Saidin, who was leading a team of five lawyers, however argued for the bail to be reduced. According to him, to secure Abdul Rahman's attendance, bail should be set at RM8,000.

Judge Syafeera Mohd Said rejected the defence's application and fixed bail at RM30,000.

Later in the afternoon, in a separate court, Mohd Rosli Bushra, an aide to Abdul Rahman, was charged with eight counts of abetting the Umno MP in making the false claims.

Mohd Rosli claimed trial and session judge Mat Ghani Abdullah set bail at RM9,000. Both cases have been fixed for Dec 14 for mention.