Latest news with #526.80
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Umrah package firm, director charged for ignoring tribunal's RM232,000 award to consumers
KOTA KINABALU: A company offering umrah packages and its director were charged in the magistrates' court here today for failing to comply with a decision by the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia to award claims amounting to RM232,526.80 to six people. The company, Emraz Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, and its director, Datuk Zulkarnain Endut, 44, each face six charges under Section 117(1) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999, which carries a penalty of up to RM10,000, two years' imprisonment, or both, upon conviction. Zulkarnain, in his capacity as a director and on behalf of the company, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus after the charges were read out. According to the charge sheet, the company and Zulkarnain had allegedly committed the offences between July 2023 and January 2024 at the Sabah Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry in Jalan UMS, here, by failing to pay the awards ranging from RM24,666.80 to RM50,000 to six individuals, totalling RM232,526.80. The court fixed Sept 23 for pre-trial case management and allowed bail at RM1,000 for each charge, with a local surety. An additional condition was imposed requiring the accused to report to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry's office in Putrajaya on the 17th of every month. Deputy public prosecutors from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Shafiq Mahadi and Md Syafique Md Helmie, prosecuted while the accused was represented by counsel Farah Nazriah Chun Lee @ Mohd Fadzlee Lee. Earlier, Farah informed the court that another director of the company, Datin Mazuin Mustafa, who is also Zulkarnain's wife, was supposed to be charged today but was unable to attend due to a high-risk pregnancy that prevented her from travelling to Sabah. Farah said her condition had been confirmed by Putrajaya Hospital on June 20, and she applied for the warrant of arrest against Mazuin to be revoked, which was not opposed by the prosecution. Meanwhile, Shafiq informed the court that according to a letter from the hospital, the accused's wife is currently 11 weeks pregnant. The prosecution requested that the next case management to be fixed within two months, with the same date also intended to ascertain the status of the accused's wife regarding when she would be fit to travel to Sabah. The court was also informed that Zulkarnain is facing similar charges in various states across Malaysia, including Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia. On July 8 2023, Bernama quoted Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as saying that the ministry had suspended the licence of Emraz Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd for six months, effective July 10, 2023 until Jan 9, 2024. Lembaga Tabung Haji Lembaga Tabung Haji had also suspended the licence of the same company on April 2 in the same year in a move to protect the welfare of prospective haj pilgrims following public complaints about their umrah services.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Travel company, director claim trial over unpaid refunds
Zulkarian KOTA KINABALU (July 15): A travel company and its director pleaded not guilty at a Magistrate's Court here on Tuesday to six charges of failing to comply with Consumer Claims Tribunal (TTPM) orders to refund a total of RM232,526.80 to six individuals. Emraz Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd and its director, Datuk Zulkarnain Endut, 44, claimed trial before magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus. Both were granted bail of RM1,000 with one local surety for each charge. Zulkarnain entered the pleas on behalf of himself and the company. He was represented by counsel Farah Nazriah Chun Lee @ Mohd Fadzlee Lee, while Deputy Public Prosecutors Shafiq Mahadi and Md Syafique Md Helmie appeared for the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). The company and Zulkarnain face six charges under Section 117(1) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 for failing to comply with TTPM award orders. If convicted, they face a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. According to the charges, they allegedly failed to pay the awarded claims — ranging from RM24,666.80 to RM50,000 — between 24 July 2023 and 25 January 2024 at the KPDN Sabah office, Federal Government Administrative Complex, Jalan UMS. The third accused, Datin Mazuin Mustafa — Zulkarnain's wife and also a company director — was absent due to a high-risk pregnancy, supported by a medical report from Putrajaya Hospital dated 20 June 2025. Her lawyer informed the court that this is her first pregnancy and is into the 11th week, with travel deemed unsafe. Counsel Farah Nazriah requested that the arrest warrant against Mazuin be revoked, to which the prosecution had no objection. Deputy Public Prosecutor Shafiq requested that a pre-trial case management (PTCM) be scheduled in two months and that the court be updated on Mazuin's ability to attend. He noted the case is of public interest due to its connection with multiple Umrah packages and substantial financial losses. He also proposed bail at RM2,000 per charge with one local surety, along with a condition for the accused to report to KPDN on the 17th of every month. Farah Nazriah appealed for minimal bail, citing that the accused is a Malaysian citizen with no fixed income following the company's winding-up on 17 July 2024. She also highlighted the accused's personal responsibilities, including his wife's medical condition. The accused are facing other charges throughout Malaysia, including in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. The court fixed 23 September 2025 for pre-trial case management and maintained bail at RM1,000 per charge with one local surety.
