The Ayer Keroh Sessions Court acquitted the Manipal University College Malaysia vice-chancellor after the MACC prosecution withdrew the charge.

AYER KEROH: The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged Manipal University College Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Dr G. Jayakumar from a charge of deceiving a former colleague.

Judge Elesabet Paya Wan granted the acquittal after the prosecution from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission withdrew the charge against him.

Jayakumar had pleaded not guilty to the charge on Jan 21 this year.

He was accused of deceiving the then MUCM vice-chancellor into appointing a lecturer from Universiti Perdana Kuala Lumpur as the Head of Curriculum and Academic Development Programme Consultant to develop the Occupational Therapy Programme module for RM20,000.

The charge alleged he knew the appointment was contrary to the service contract and regulations of the university involved.

The offence was allegedly committed at the university college on May 3, 2021.

He had been charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharina Farhana Nor Sa’ari.

Jayakumar was represented by lawyers Harvinderjit Singh, Farhan Read and Amirtha MCPirapu.

 The Sun Malaysia