Assistant to company director charged with cheating over RM5.1 million glove deal

New Straits Times

08-07-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: An assistant to a company director claimed trial at the Sessions Court today (July 7) to a charge of cheating a businesswoman out of RM5.1 million from purported sales of non-existent nitrile examination gloves five years ago.
P. Dinesh, 36, entered his plea after the charge was read out to him before judge Azrul Darus.
He was accused of committing the offence with company director R. Gopinathan Pillai, who had been charged at another Sessions Court in February.
The victim, who owns Atlas Holdings, was allegedly deceived by Dinesh into believing that 150,000 boxes of Coats Nitrile Examination Gloves under the Hartalega brand were stored at the Hartalega Sdn Bhd warehouse, ready for sale and delivery by Gopinathan's company, Aspen Broadway.
However, the gloves did not exist, and he allegedly induced the victim to transfer RM5.1 million through a law firm to a bank account of another law firm appointed by Aspen Broadway — a transaction the victim would not have made had he known he was being deceived.
The offence allegedly occurred at about 11am at a condominium in Jalan Tun Ismail on Nov 9, 2020.
The offence under Section 420 of the Penal Code read with Section 34 carries a jail term of not less than one year and not exceeding 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Chow Siang Kong proposed a RM500,000 bail with two sureties bail.
He also applied for the accused to surrender his passport to the court and report to the police station monthly as additional conditions.
However, lawyer Mohd Akmal Mohd Taufik argued for a lower bail, describing the prosecution's suggested sum as excessive and punitive.
He said his client, who earns RM1,500 as a salesman, was supporting his wife, a school-going child and a sickly mother.
"My client has been cooperative throughout the investigation. He has also promised to attend all court proceedings," he said.
The judge granted bail at RM100,000 with one surety and allowed the additional conditions.
July 28 was set for document submission.
In February this year, Gopinathan, a company director, claimed trial to one charge of cheating and seven counts of money laundering involving RM5.1 million in connection with the purported sale of non-existent nitrile examination gloves five years ago.
The 60-year-old was granted a RM280,000 bail with two sureties.