KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 -- Spanco Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Robert Tan Hua Choon this morning was charged with cheating the government to award his company a contract worth over RM3 billion by convincing that Spanco has at least 30 per cent Bumiputera shareholding.

Tan, 83, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Suzana Hussin at the Sessions Court here.

The offence was allegedly committed between February 27, 2019 and February 29, 2019 at the Finance Ministry's office in Putrajaya.

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.

Bail was set at RM2 million by Judge Suzana after the accused's lawyer Datuk Wan Azmir Wan Majid, did not...