Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Management Service senior manager K Baskaran, who is facing a charge for making a false claim, may be sacked soon.

Baskaran, who pleaded not guilty when charged in court last week, will be referred to the PDC’s disciplinary committee for management and professional services.

Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng said that under Section 46 of the Statutory Body Enactment (Discipline and Surcharge) (Penang) 2001, the committee has the jurisdiction to sack, demote or suspend an officer from his duties if the court proceedings have commenced.

Lim, who is PDC chairperson, added that PDC will present a report to the disciplinary committee which will convene a meeting soon.

“This case, which happened in 2006, will be referred to the committee with the purpose of sacking or demotion (of the said staff), or suspension with half pay” he told reporter at a press conference in Komtar today.

“This is a adhoc committee... in the event that there is another case like this, the PDC will convene another committee,” he added.

False invoice

The four-member panel will be chaired by state secretary Zainal Rahim Seman while A Thanasekharan, who is also the Bagan Ajam state assemblyperson, is the legal representative.

On Dec 27, Baskaran was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), who accused him of making a false claim for a punch-card equipment worth RM5,700.

A day later, Baskaran was charged at the Georgetown Sessions Court.

He had allegedly produced a false invoice to Dalilah Yusoff of the PDC's Finance and Investment Division, for the purchase of EN200 Ethernet Communication Module from Gizasoft Technologies Sdn Bhd.

He allegedly committed the offence under Section 11(c) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997, at the PDC headquarters in Bayan Baru on Aug 11, 2006.

If found guilty, he faces a fine and a maximum 20 years jail term. The case is fixed for mention on Jan 27.

Baskaran, 53, has served the PDC for 28 years.