TAWAU (July 16): A former branch manager and a loan supervisor at a micro credit institution in Semporna pleaded not guilty at the Special Sessions Court on Corruption here today, to 29 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), amounting to RM120,760, between 2011 and 2013.
The accused, Abd Hari Lahairi, 39, and Abdul Wafi Muhadar, 36, made the plea after the charges were read to them before Judge Abu Bakar Manat.
Abd Hari, the institution’s branch manager at the time, was accused of committing the CBT by cashing cheques totalling RM120,760, written in the name of a borrower who did not apply for or receive the money.
He allegedly committed the offence at Maybank Semporna branch, between March 2011 and 2013, and he was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment term of not less than two years and not more than 20 years and with whipping and also a fine, upon conviction.
The second accused, Abdul Wafi, as loan supervisor, was charged with abetting Abd Hari by signing the issuance of the cheques to commit the offence at the same location and date.
He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code along with Section 409 of the same law, which carries a jail term of not less than two years and not more than 20 years and with whipping and also a fine, if convicted.
The judge then allowed both accused a bail of RM15,000 each and set Aug 24 for mention.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecuting officer Rekhraj Singh prosecuted, while Abd Wafi was represented by lawyer Abdul Gani Zelika and Abd Hari was unrepresented.