Indian national charged with CBT of over RM140,000 in funds
KUALA LUMPUR: An Indian national pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving more than RM140,000 in the company's funds four years ago.
Rajinder Singh, 57, was charged as the director of Vantage Trading Partners, with committing CBT of the company's funds amounting to RM141,486.12.
The offence was allegedly committed at the company at Ilham Tower, Jalan Binjai here, on Oct 13 and Nov 26, 2021.
He was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides a prison sentence of not less than two years and a maximum of 20 years, whipping and is liable to a fine, if convicted.
The man also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using the fund without the consent or ratification of a general meeting at the same location and date.
The charge, under Section 218 (1) (a) of the Companies Act, provides imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to RM3 million or both upon conviction.
Judge Zulqarnain Hassan did not allow the accused bail and set June 5 for mention.
'The principle of bail is to ensure the accused appears in court. The accused and his wife are foreign nationals, and this country is not their homeland. Therefore, bail is not allowed,' he said.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir did not offer bail, but said that if the court exercises its discretion to grant bail, he requested the bail amount at RM70,000 with two Malaysian guarantors.
Lawyer Daniel Annamalai, representing Rajinder Singh, requested that his client be allowed bail on the grounds that he has a wife, who is British, and two teenaged children to support.
'The accused is not at risk of fleeing because he has lived in this country for seven years and has businesses in Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia in addition to being a 'trader' for the governments of the four countries,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Calls for legal reforms after fatal student bus crash
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said it may be time to evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement measures. PETALING JAYA : Calls have arisen for reforms to Malaysia's legal framework following the accident between an MPV and a bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students which claimed 15 lives yesterday. Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said it might be time to evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement measures, and for the government to consider whether amendments to the Penal Code are necessary. She also said the government must consider whether a new law, similar to the UK's Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, should be introduced. 'This legislation allows a company to be prosecuted for serious failings in the way it manages the safety of its workers or the public, where negligence results in death,' she said in a Facebook post. She said the UK Act was introduced in response to a number of workplace fatalities where no corporate entity could be held criminally liable under existing laws, particularly in cases involving transport service providers where human lives are at stake and cannot be replaced. Yesterday, the firm that operated the bus involved said the driver had a good track record. Kenari Utara Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd also said the bus, which was serviced last month, had no issues and was always sent for servicing on schedule. Separately, the Malaysian Academic Movement (Gerak) called for the formulation of a national road safety action plan based on the 'safe system' implemented in countries like Australia. It said Australia had succeeded in significantly reducing its road fatality rates through this approach, which focusses on building a system designed to protect users, even when human error occurs. 'Its core principle is that the responsibility for safety does not lie with road users alone, but is shared among all parties, including road planners, engineers, vehicle manufacturers, and enforcement authorities,' Gerak said in a statement. It added that the safe system approach was founded on four main pillars, the first being the construction of roads that can 'forgive' driver errors, such as by installing road barriers and designing safer intersections. It said the second pillar involves ensuring speed limits that are appropriate for the road conditions, environment, and types of road users. The third pillar involves encouraging the use of vehicles with modern safety features and ensuring that commercial vehicles are maintained to the highest standards, while the fourth pillar focusses on continuous education and enforcement to cultivate prudent driving behaviour.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Tougher action on road accident accountability needed, says Azalina
PETALING JAYA: More effective action is needed on those responsible for major road accidents causing loss of life, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said "Perhaps it is time to assess the effectiveness of law enforcement and consider whether to amend the Penal Code or introduce a new act, similar to what is practised in the United Kingdom. The Minister of Law and Institutional Reform in the Prime Minister's Department referred to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which is a law in the UK. "This act allows a company to be prosecuted for serious failures in managing the safety of its workers or the public, and for negligence that results in death," Azalina said in a Facebook post on Tuesday (June 10). She explained the act was established in the UK in response to workplace deaths where no corporate entity could be held criminally accountable under the law. This is especially relevant for companies providing transportation services, as it involves human lives that are priceless," she added.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Two policemen, ex-cop claim trial to graft charges
ALOR STAR: Two policemen and a former cop claimed trial to corruption charges at the Sessions Court here today. Lance Corporal Ahmad Rabani Rusnizal, 29, and Lance Corporal Mohamad Shukre Mohamed Rowi, 37, together with former police corporal Wan Mohd Nor Imran Wan Seman, 35, entered the plea before judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini. According to the charge, the three of them, acting with common intent, allegedly agreed to accept a bribe of RM20,000 in cash from Azizi Norhafizi Abu Bakar as an inducement not to take action against him for being in possession of methamphetamine (syabu). At the time of the alleged offence, all three were serving in the Crime Prevention Branch at Merbok police station. The offence is alleged to have taken place at the Semeling police post, Kuala Muda, at 11.30pm on July 23, 2023. Meanwhile, in the same court, Ahmad Rabani, Mohamad Shukre and another policeman, Corporal Azmil Rizal Azhar, 34, also pleaded not guilty to two other charges. For the first of these charges, the three accused allegedly agreed, with common intent, to accept a bribe of RM10,000 from Azizi Norhafizi as an inducement not to take action against him for possessing methamphetamine. They also claimed trial to a separate charge for allegedly receiving RM5,000 bribe from the same individual under similar circumstances. The two offences were allegedly committed at the Semeling police post and at a 7-Eleven outlet in Taman Lembah Bujang Indah, Merbok, on Oct 25 and 26, 2023, respectively. All charges were framed under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. If found guilty, they face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000 — whichever is higher. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor, Mohd Zulfadli Azharudin prosecuted all cases, while all the accused were represented by counsel Siti Salwa Ja'afar. Zulfadli proposed that the court set RM10,000 bail for each of the accused, but Siti Salwa pleaded for half of the amount. The court subsequently set bail at RM8,000, with Ahmad Rabani and Mohamad Shukre each required to pay RM16,000. July 20 has been fixed as mention date.
