KOTA KINABALU: The president of Pertubuhan Rungus Bersatu Sabah, Makinsos Nawai pleaded not guilty in Sessions Court on Thursday to a charge of misusing his position related to a RM2 million government allocation intended for a cultural hall project.
Makinsos, 67, made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Andi Razalijaya A. Dadi, facing accusations of securing personal benefits from state Finance Ministry funds designated in 2022 for building the Rungus Cultural Hall and Gallery.
The court was informed that Makinsos submitted the funding request and proceeded with the project without approval from the organisation’s Supreme Council, even though he had a direct personal interest in both the application and execution phases.
Judge Andi Razalijaya set August 27 for document exchange and scheduled the trial for November 2 to 4. Bail was granted at RM50,000, requiring two local guarantors and a deposit of RM5,000.
As part of the conditions, Makinsos must report monthly to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), surrender his passport to the court for the duration of the case, and is prohibited from influencing any prosecution witnesses.
