Ex-Bank Rakyat bosses acquitted of CBT involving RM15m (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Rakyat former managing director Datuk Mustafha Abd Razak and former chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal were acquitted and discharged by the sessions court for criminal breach of trust (CBT), involving nearly RM15 million.
Judge Madihah Hasbullah acquitted the duo after deputy public prosecutor Afzanizam Abdul Aziz told the court that the Attorney General Chamber's (AGC) had withdrawn the charges against them.
"Both accused are discharged and acquitted," she said, adding that their bail RM400,000 each was to be refunded.
Lawyer Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, representing Mustafha, said the court's decision vindicated his client's innocence.
He later told the media as the AGC withdrew the charges against Mustafha, the charges against Abdul Aziz were dropped as well.
"We sent a representation to the AGC on June 1. As the charges against my client was dropped, the charges against the second accused was dropped as well. I would like to thank the AGC and MACC for the thorough consideration. This decision proves my clients innocence," he told the media.
Abdul Aziz thanked the lawyers for working to ensure the truth.
"We are thankful to the lawyers and to the AGC. This vindicates us, proves that we were innocent. Not just us, our families suffered when we were charged," he told the media outside the courtroom.
They were both charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code for allegedly committing the offence at Bank Rakyat headquarters in March 2016.
They were charged on September 7, 2016 and both claimed trial to the charges.
Mustafha and Aziz were replaced as managing director and chairman by Datuk Zulkiflee Abbas Abdul Hamid on April last year and Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh January last year, respectively.
Abdul Aziz, who was entrusted with the allocation of group marketing expenses totalling RM14,991,283.20, was charged with abetting Mustafha in committing CBT at the same time and place.