20-05-2025
RM55,000 fraud: Ex-bank teller claims trial to CBT, forgery charges
ALOR STAR: A former bank teller pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to eight charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and forgery involving RM55,000 from a religious academy's bank account, allegedly committed three years ago.
The accused, Mohd Abd Rahman Hamzah, 41, who is currently employed as a car salesman, entered his plea before Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.
According to the charge sheets, the offences were allegedly committed at the bank's Kuala Nerang branch in the Padang Terap district between April and June 2022.
Four of the charges pertain to CBT under Section 408 of the Penal Code, in which Abd Rahman is accused of dishonestly withdrawing and misappropriating a total of RM55,000 from the Akademi Al-Quran dan Dakwah Ummah's bank account without authorisation.
The remaining four charges, framed under Section 471 of the Penal Code, relate to the alleged use of falsified withdrawal forms as genuine documents. These offences are punishable under Section 465 of the same Act.
The transactions in question involved two withdrawals of RM10,000, as well as withdrawals of RM15,000 and RM20,000 — all from the same account.
If convicted, the CBT charges carry a prison sentence of between one and 14 years, whipping, and a fine. The forgery charges carry a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Vatchira Wong Rui Fern appeared for the prosecution. The accused was unrepresented.
Wong proposed bail of RM20,000 for each charge, but the accused appealed for a lower amount, citing full cooperation during the investigation and financial hardship.
He informed the court that he earned RM1,000 a month as a car salesman and supports his wife, two children, and his ailing mother.
The court set bail at RM28,000 for all charges combined and fixed June 15 for mention.
