Ex-CEO denies stealing more than RM1.2mil
THE STAR
Claiming trial: Rizam covering his face with a jacket as he is being escorted into the Sessions Court in Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: A former sand company chief executive officer claimed trial at a Sessions Court here for transferring money acquired from illegal activities and for misappropriating funds more than RM1.2mil.
In the first charge, Rizam Sahar, 36, was alleged to have transferred some RM105,000 that was acquired from illegal activities between Dec 29, 2014, and Feb 2, 2015, at a bank along Jalan Raya, Taman Tiram Baru, here.
He was said to have transferred the money using two cheques deposited into another account belonging to RS Star Contractors and Construction Sdn Bhd via a bank account registered under his name.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which carries a sentence of 15 years jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher.
In the second charge, Rizam was alleged to have misappropriated over RM1.2mil in royalty for sand production belonging to Syarikat Dinamik Gabungan Wilayah JB Sdn Bhd through a bank account under his name.
He was said to have committed the offence at the same bank between November 2014 and March 2015.
For this offence, Rizam could be jailed not less than six months or more than five years and whipping and fine, if convicted.
Rizam pleaded not guilty to both offences before judge Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nasir.
Mohd Fauzi set bail at RM50,000 with one surety for each charge and instructed the accused to surrender his passport to the court before fixing Feb 1 next year for the next mention.
Rizam posted bail.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecuting officer Khazrin Hafiz Halil prosecuted the case while lawyer R. Subash represented Rizam.
In Petaling Jaya, an aircraft fuel supplying firm’s chief executive officer claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to criminal breach of trust involving RM306,000.
Datuk Seri Anuar Ghazali, 46, allegedly misappropriated the sum through five cheques which had been entrusted to him, Bernama reported.
He is accused of committing the offence at Carrier Corp Petroleum Sdn Bhd, Ara Damansara here between 8am and 5pm, between Nov 26 and Dec 23 last year.
The charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a maximum 14 years imprisonment and whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Judge Azwarnida Affandi set bail at RM20,000 with one surety and Jan 18 for remention.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aishah Ahmad Zakiuddin appeared for the prosecution while the accused was represented by counsel Ahmad Zahid Abu Hashim.
