Spanco boss claims trial to cheating

Tan Hua Choon pleads not guilty to the charge, which carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.

(FMT) – Tan Hua Choon, the chairman of Spanco Sdn Bhd which procures and manages the government’s fleet of vehicles, has claimed trial to a charge of cheating.

Tan, 83, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before judge Suzana Hussin at the sessions court here.

Tan was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to 10 years in prison, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.

According to the charge sheet, the offence was allegedly committed between Feb 27, 2019 and Feb 28, 2019 at the finance ministry’s office in Putrajaya.

Tan allegedly misled the tender committee that there was at least 30% Bumiputera shareholding in Spanco, leading to the finance ministry awarding the company a contract worth RM3.9 billion to procure and manage the government’s vehicles fleet.

Judge Suzana set bail at RM2 million with one surety and fixed June 4 for case mention.

Tan was ordered to surrender his passport until the disposal of the case, and is prohibited from contacting witnesses directly or through third parties.

He must also report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission once every two months.

Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Jumaat prosecuted while lawyer Wan Azmir Wan Majid represented Tan.