KUALA LUMPUR: A former member of Yayasan Pengurusan Ilmu Board of Directors pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today to three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving more than RM170,000 of the foundation’s fund.
Datuk Abdul Rahman Mohamed Shariff, 63, who is Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chairman, made the plea after the charges were read out to him before Judge Azura Alwi.
On the first count, Abdul Rahman was charged in his capacity as a board member of the foundation, where he was trusted with the foundation’s assets, to have committed CBT by dishonestly causing RM150,000 from the foundation to be transferred via Maybank Islamic Berhad cheque dated Nov 22, 2018 into an account belonging to Mudra Resources Sdn Bhd which belonged to him for his personal use.
He was also charged with committing a similar offence, involving RM3,049.00 from the foundation for purchase of a box of Montecristo Edmundo cigar and a box of Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill cigar, using a cheque dated Dec 13, 2018.
On the third charge, he was alleged to have committed a similar offence involving RM25,000 of the foundation’s fund which was transferred into an account belonging to AK Success Sdn Bhd for purchase of a Rational Combi Oven & Ultravent plus Exhaust Hood by Coffee Sandwich Revival Sdn Bhd, a company belonging to his wife.
The payment was made through five cheques dated Dec 13, 2018.
All the offences were allegedly committed at Maybank Islamic Berhad, Taman Melawati branch here, between Nov 23, 2018, and Jan 7, 2019.
The charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and whipping and is liable to fine, if found guilty.
Abdul Rahman was allowed bail of RM100,000 with one surety and also ordered to report himself at the Federal Territory MACC Office once a month.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), prosecuted, while lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, represented Abdul Rahman.
The court also set Feb 13 for mention. — Bernama
