A businessman already facing seven charges of making fraudulent Goods and Services Tax (GST) claims was slapped with another five counts of a similar offence at the Sessions Court in Ipoh.
- Earlier charge of 7 counts amounting to RM478,715
- Additional 5 counts totalling RM363,769
- Wife faces 4 counts amounting to RM267,123
- Meanwhile, Customs Department announced will work with MCMC to take action against the spread of defamatory and false news about the GST.
On Aug 30, Loo Peng Wah, 50, had been charged with seven counts of making false claims in the GST-03 statement amounting to RM478,715 between October 2015 and April last year, while his wife, Ng Lee Foon, 45, faced four counts of similar charges involving RM267,123 allegedly committed between January and May last year.
Loo was rearrested on the same day as soon as the court granted him bail.
He was in the dock again on Sept 13, this time for making claims totalling RM363,769 in the GST-03 tax returns with the intention of obtaining credit for tax input against tax output at the state Customs headquarters on separate occasions between January and May last year.
The couple now faces a total of 12 charges of making false GST refund claims amounting to more than RM1.1 million.
Loo pleaded not guilty to the charges under Section 89(1) (b) of the GST Act 2014 before Sessions Court judge Murtazadi Amran.
Prosecuting officer Mohd Safwan Fathy Yahaya asked for bail to be set at RM60,000 for each offence owing to the large amount involved.
Loo’s defence counsel Manjeet Kaur and Dalgit Singh asked for no additional bail or, if the court wished to impose it, for the amount to be reduced to RM10,000 for each charge.
“My client is suffering from high blood pressure and depression after being in police lock-up. He is unable to sleep,” Manjeet said, adding that Loo would be present in court each time he was required.
She added that he had already surrendered his passport to the court, and there was no danger of him absconding.
Murtazadi allowed bail of RM20,000 for each charge (totalling RM100,000) with one surety.
Loo was also ordered to report to the nearest Customs office every month.
The court fixed Oct 12 for re-mention of the case.
On a separate matter, the Customs Department will work with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take action against the spread of defamatory and false news about the GST.
The move was to curb the slander hurled by certain parties against the GST recently, Customs director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy told the media on Wednesday.
“I feel sad when I sometimes receive Whatsapp messages from friends, I read it and know the news is not right.
“The younger generation, on the other hand, is gullible. So, it is important that someone investigates the matter, and I feel they (the irresponsible parties) should not think that everyone is stupid,” Subromaniam said.
Earlier report: Aug 31, Couple Charged with Making Fraudulent GST Claims of RM700K