A former secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry's finance division, Otman Arsahd, 57, claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to 32 counts of abusing his position and making false claims amounting to RM38.471 million.

Otman faces 17 charges of making false claims under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, and the remaining 15 charges of abusing his position.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at the National Sports Council office, at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 28, 2012 and Nov 18, last year.