Deputy Director of Hospital in Perlis Charged For Swindling Frontliners of Covid-19 Cash Allowance

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, both the federal and the state governments had offered Covid-19 allowances and funds for those who are affected.

However, it appears that sometimes, the funds end up going to those who don’t deserve it instead of those who have worked hard.

In a report by Berita Harian, it was reported that a deputy director (management) at the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF) in Kangar, Perlis was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday (January 6) over swindling and abuse of power involving Covid-19 cash allowance paid by the state government to the hospital’s frontliners 3 years ago.

Norhisham Hassan, 44, entered the plea to 10 counts of charges before Judge Norsalha Hamzah.

According to the case facts, Norhisham had swindled RM400 in “one-time” cash allowance paid by the state government for each of the hospital staff who had served as frontliners during the pandemic in 2020.

She was alleged to have dishonestly asked 10 frontliners to sign a document to confirm that they had received the cash allowance, although some did not even receive the full amount. The accused was alleged to have committed the offence at HTF between April 27 and April 29, 2020.

The charges were framed under Section 415 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 417 of the same Act. She is facing a jail term up to 5 years or a fine or both if found guilty.

The prosecution was carried out by the Deputy Public Prosecutor Rehab Abdul Shukur while the accused was not represented.

Rehab proposed that the court impose RM5,000 bail for each of the charges and require the accused to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Perlis every month.

The accused pleaded for a lower amount of bail. The court granted the accused RM4,000 bail for each charge and fixed February 7 as the mention date.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Also read: Health Minister Goes Undercover at Klang Hospital to Chat With Patients