KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Marine Department Director-General Capt Mohamad Halim Ahmed was charged in the Shah Alam sessions court today with cheating, resulting in shipping companies bringing heavy-grade oil into Malaysian waters without the approval of the Transport Minister four years ago.
Halim, 57, who is the former secretary of the Maritime Division at the Transport Ministry, pleaded not guilty to the charge before judge Datuk Anita Harun, according to Bernama.
Halim was accused of cheating his predecessor, then Marine Department director-general Datuk Baharin Abdul Hamid, by giving him a letter from the Transport Ministry dated October 27 2020.
The letter falsely stated that the Transport Minister had decided on October 22 2020, to maintain the exemption period for shipping companies to bring “heavy grade oil” in Malaysian waters according to the approved date, when no such approval was given.
This prompted Baharin to issue an exemption letter to the shipping companies concerned, which he would not have done if he had not been deceived.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Marine Headquarters, Malaysian Marine Department, Jalan Limbungan, Port Klang, here on October 27 2020. – August 1, 2024