SHAH ALAM: A businessman with a “Datuk” title has claimed trial to 69 charges of allegedly trying to swindle the government of various construction projects which can see him in jail for a total of 483 years.

       Datuk Adly Kamarudin, 47, was charged at a Sessions Court here yesterday for facilitating fraud over various government projects, involving roadworks, renovation and upgrading works, as well as the installation of air conditioning and mechanical apparatus.

       He now faces a total jail term of 483 years if found guilty as each charge comes with a maximum imprisonment of seven years and a fine.

       He is accused of abetting and directing eight of his employees to forge 69 documents related to various projects with the intent of cheating the Public Works Department.He is said to have committed the offences in a bungalow at Bandar Baru Bangi from June 2019 to September 2020.

       The charges were read before judge Rozilah Salleh and took more than an hour to be completed.

       Adly was charged under Section 468 of the Penal Code which was read together with Section 109 of the same legislation.

       Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib offered bail at RM500,000 with one surety.

       He also asked for the accused to report at the nearest MACC office every month and for his passport to be surrendered to the court.

       However, defence counsel Md. Yunus Shariff said his client needed his passport as he had many business dealings overseas and requested for the bail to be settled today.

       Allowing bail, Rozilah ruled that the accused would have to notify the court via email and the prosecution seven days before exiting the country for business.

       Rozilah fixed Nov 3 for mention.