Police bust unlicensed online money lending activity.

– NST, March 3, 2022

@ 12:29am
NIBONG TEBAL: Police uncovered an unlicensed online money
lending activity following a raid at a premises in Bandar Tasek
Mutiara, Simpang Ampat on Tuesday.

Ten people, including four women, aged between 18 and 30, were
nabbed during the raid.

Acting on a tip off, police from the Petaling Jaya and Seberang
Prai Selatan district police headquarters' Commercial Criminal
Investigation Department launched an operation codenamed Op
Vulture at the premises yesterday afternoon.

Seberang Prai Selatan police chief Superintendent Lee Chong

Chern said checks inside the premises found the 10 individuals
inside with electronic equipment.

"Further investigation led police to believe that the premises was

used to carry out unlicensed online money lending activities and
call centre to collect debts.

"Police also seized laptops and cell phones of various models

Police bust unlicensed online money lending activity. – NST, March 3, 2022
@ 12:29am
along with pre-paid cards, believed for use in the unlicensed
online money lending activity," he said.

Lee said all those detained were being investigated under Section
5(2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951.

The offence carries a minimum fine of RM250,000 and maximum

of RM1 million, or five years' imprisonment, or both, upon
conviction.
MACC clears Muhyiddin, Umno’s Tajuddin of corruption and abuse of
power allegations.-The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 03:19 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) has cleared former prime minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin from allegations that he sought political support by
offering positions in government-linked firms, which his critics deemed
to be a form of bribery.

De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said in a
written reply to Teo Nie ching, Kulai Member of Parliament from
Pakatan Harapan, that MACC had concluded its investigation into the
audio clip purportedly of Muhyiddin making the offer.

"The MACC has concluded its investigation into the issue. There was
no element of wrongdoing under the MACC Act 2009," Wan Junaidi
said.

Muhyiddin was probed after an unverified audio recording alleging an

attempt to entice Umno leaders to join Bersatu by promising
government positions was leaked and shared on social media two
years ago.

The recording was purportedly made at the Bersatu Supreme Council

MACC clears Muhyiddin, Umno’s Tajuddin of corruption and abuse of
power allegations.-The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 03:19 PM MYT
meeting on Feb 23, 2020, a day before his predecessor Tun Dr
Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister and Bersatu chairman.

Teo had asked the government to make public the MACC's

investigation on Muhyiddin.

In the same reply Wan Junaidi said the MACC has classified the power
abuse investigation into former Prasarana chairman Datuk Seri
Tajuddin Abdul Rahman as “no further action”.

Tajuddin was probed following an allegation that he had used his

position to make decisions favourable to a company linked to a family
member.

The Umno firebrand leader had been arrested in May 2021 and later
released on bail. It was reported that he was detained to assist in an
investigation linked to the appointment of his son-in-law to Prasarana.

Tajuddin was eventually sacked from Prasarana a few days after a

gaffe-riddled press conference on a Kelana Jaya LRT collision on May
24, 2021.
MACC clears Muhyiddin, Umno’s Tajuddin of corruption and abuse of
power allegations.-The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 03:19 PM MYT
Meanwhile, investigation against MP for Kuala Langat Dr Xavier
Jayakumar is still ongoing, Wan Junaidi said in the reply.

The investigation against the former PKR leader is believed to be

related to the case against MA Thinagaran, reportedly a close
associate of Xavier, for corruption involving a development project in
Perak.
9 individu, 3 syarikat fail saman terhadap CIMB Bank. Berita Harian, Mac 1,
2022 @ 6:50pm KUALA LUMPUR: Sembilan individu dan tiga syarikat yang juga
pemegang akaun CIMB Bank memfailkan saman terhadap bank
itu berhubung pembekuan akaun simpanan serta akaun semasa
mereka pada Januari lalu atas alasan disyaki terbabit dalam
kegiatan haram dan mencurigakan bagi akaun berkenaan.

Semua plaintif memfailkan saman itu menerusi Tetuan Nazmi

Zaini Chambers di Mahkamah Tinggi di sini semalam dengan
menamakan CIMB Bank Berhad dan CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad
selaku defendan pertama serta kedua.

Berdasarkan pernyataan tuntutan, plaintif yang juga pendeposit

akaun simpanan dan akaun semasa yang disediakan defendan
itu, mendakwa mereka mengetahui akaun berkenaan dibekukan
kedua-dua defendan pada 26 Januari hingga 28 Januari lalu.

Mereka mendakwa, pada 31 Januari hingga 4 Februari lalu,

mereka menghubungi cawangan kedua-dua defendan bagi
mendapatkan penjelasan dan dimaklumkan mereka disyaki
terbabit dalam kegiatan haram serta mencurigakan membabitkan
akaun berkenaan.
9 individu, 3 syarikat fail saman terhadap CIMB Bank. Berita Harian, Mac 1,
2022 @ 6:50pm
"Plaintif juga dimaklumkan jumlah (wang) yang dibekukan adalah
sebahagian daripada transaksi terapung sementara menunggu
penyelesaian transaksi itu dan semua plaintif dimaklumkan
sistem perbankan secara dalam talian defendan dalam proses
penyelenggaraan teknikal," dakwa semua plaintif seperti
dilaporkan Bernama.

Plaintif pada setiap masa mendakwa mereka tidak pernah

terbabit menjalankan transaksi yang membenarkan defendan
membekukan atau menahan akaun berkenaan.

"Tindakan defendan membeku atau menahan akaun itu tanpa

sebarang alasan dibenarkan di dalam Klausa 7, Terma dan
Syarat Akaun Simpanan dan Terma dan Syarat Akaun Semasa
adalah suatu kemungkiran kontrak antara plaintif dan defendan.

"Tindakan pembekuan atau penahanan akaun itu oleh defendan

menyebabkan semua plaintif mengalami kesukaran, kesulitan
dan kepayahan apabila tidak boleh mengguna pakai akaun
berkenaan," dakwa mereka.
9 individu, 3 syarikat fail saman terhadap CIMB Bank. Berita Harian, Mac 1,
2022 @ 6:50pm
Selain itu, semua plaintif mendakwa defendan mempunyai
tanggungjawab dan tugas berhati-hati untuk memastikan
sebarang tindakan pihak ketiga tidak menjejaskan hak serta
kedudukan mereka sebagai pendeposit kepada institusi
kewangan itu.

Dakwa plaintif, defendan mengabaikan tugasnya apabila

membenarkan kecuaian pihak ketiga yang menyediakan
perkhidmatan kiriman wang yang menjejaskan hak dan
kedudukan mereka sebagai pelanggan serta pendeposit.

Semua plaintif memohon antaranya deklarasi bahawa defendan

sudah memungkiri terma dan syarat akaun simpanan serta
akaun semasa apabila tindakan defendan membekukan akaun
itu tanpa sebab yang dibenarkan undang-undang.

Peguam Nazmi Mohd Zaini yang mewakili semua plaintif ketika

dihubungi berkata, pengurusan kes itu ditetapkan 15 Mac ini
secara dalam talian di hadapan Timbalan Pendaftar Mahkamah
Tinggi, S Malarselvi.
9 individu, 3 syarikat fail saman terhadap CIMB Bank. Berita Harian, Mac 1,
2022 @ 6:50pm
Sementara itu, Kumpulan CIMB dalam kenyataan petang ini
menafikan sebarang dakwaan pelanggaran dikenakan
terhadapnya dan akan mempertahankan kedudukannya.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, seperti dinyatakan sebelum ini, bank

tetap komited memastikan penyelesaian yang adil dan terurus
dengan pelanggan terjejas.
Apex court rejects Najib’s application to vacate appeal dates on new
evidence in SRC International case. – The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022
04:56 PM MYT
PUTRAJAYA, March 2 — The Federal Court today has rejected Datuk
Seri Najib Razak’s application to vacate the appeal hearing dates on
new evidence, in his attempt to set aside his conviction in the SRC
International Sdn Bhd case, which is scheduled on March 15 and 16.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul, who confirmed

the matter, said the former premier’s application was dismissed via
email this morning.

“So, the hearing on the said dates maintained as scheduled,” he told

Bernama in a brief WhatsApp message.

Two days ago, Najib’s counsel wrote to the court to seek for the hearing
dates to be vacated as they are still seeking all notes, evidence, and
documents related to the SRC trial at the High Court, to prepare written
submissions for the additional evidence appeal.

On December 7, 2021, the Court of Appeal dismissed Najib’s

application to adduce new evidence in his appeal, by ruling that Najib
had failed to cumulatively satisfy Section 61 of the Courts of Judicature
Act, that fresh evidence was required for justice in the case.
Apex court rejects Najib’s application to vacate appeal dates on new
evidence in SRC International case. – The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022
04:56 PM MYT
On the next day, the same court upheld the conviction and 12-year jail
term and RM210 million fine on Najib for misappropriating RM42 million
in SRC funds.

Justice Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, who led a three-member bench
comprising Justices Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam
Mydin Meera, dismissed Najib’s appeal against the KL High Court
decision on July 28, 2020.

After the ruling, Najib then filed a notice of appeal to the Federal Court.
— Bernama
Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng casts boss Leissner as habitual liar at
1MDB trial .The Edge Market, March 03, 2022 02:26 am +08
(March 2): Former Goldman Sachs Group Inc banker Roger Ng’s
defence team depicted his former boss Tim Leissner as a habitual
liar who shaded the truth at every turn to get what he wanted.

Ng’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, began his cross-examination of

Leissner Tuesday by hammering the former Goldman Southeast
Asia head about lies he admitted telling to prosecutors, federal
agents, company officials and regulators, as well as his multiple
wives and girlfriends.

“It’s fair to say you’ve lied a lot in your life?” Agnifilo asked.

Leissner admitted lying on many occasions but claimed that was all
in the past.

“I lied a lot, sir, and I regret those times,” he replied. “I turned over a
new chapter.”

Ng, the only Goldman banker to go to trial in the 1MDB scandal, is

accused of conspiring with Leissner to help financier Jho Low siphon
billions of dollars from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.
Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng casts boss Leissner as habitual liar at
1MDB trial .The Edge Market, March 03, 2022 02:26 am +08
Leissner pleaded guilty to charges in 2018 and is now the
government’s star witness against Ng. Prosecutors had Leissner on
the stand for more than a week before turning him over to the
defence on Tuesday.

Ng, who claims he tried to warn Goldman about Low, has argued
Leissner’s testimony is motivated by his desire to reduce his
sentence. Agnifilo repeatedly assailed Leissner’s credibility during
cross-examination.

Leissner admitted that he lied in his initial discussions with

prosecutors, attempting to minimize his own involvement in the
scheme while pointing a finger at Ng and his own ex-wife, Judy
Chan Leissner.

“You implicated the mother of your children in criminal activity?”

Agnifilo asked.

‘Not proud’
“I am not proud and since then I have taken responsibility,” Leissner
replied, adding that he was “really scared” when first approached by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Ex-Goldman banker Roger Ng casts boss Leissner as habitual liar at
1MDB trial .The Edge Market, March 03, 2022 02:26 am +08
He said he later decided to do “the right thing” so he could look his
children “in the eye.”

Agnifilo brought up a number of lies Leissner told in his private life.

The former banker previously admitted on the stand that he forged
divorce documents in order to convince both Chan Leissner and,
later, Kimora Lee Simmons, to wed him even though he was already
married.

Leissner acknowledged that he had hurt the people he loved the

most with his lies. “I regret that choice every day,” Leissner said. “I
don’t know why I did it.”

“Do you think you’re good at lying?” Agnifilo asked.

“I don’t think so,” Leissner said.

The cross-examination of Leissner is to continue on Wednesday.

The case is US v Ng, 18-cr-538, U.S. District Court, Southern

District of New York (Manhattan).
Rosmah’s second attempt to recuse judge an abuse of court
process, says lead prosecutor. - The Malay Mail,Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:20 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — The prosecution in Datin Seri
Rosmah Mansor’s money laundering and tax evasion trial
contended that her second bid to recuse Justice Mohamed Zaini
Mazlan from presiding over the case is an abuse of court process.

Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who is the
lead prosecutor in the case, said as Justice Mohamed Zaini had
dismissed a similar application (to have him removed as the trial
judge) previously, it was only a repeated attempt to achieve what
had already failed last year.

“Messrs Geethan Ram submitted for the earlier recusal application

and presently the same relief is filed by a different firm, which
means next time we will be seeing the same application by
another firm.

“It is an abuse of the court process because Your Lordship had

already handed down the ruling on the same application in
December last year. This application is a non-starter,” said Sri
Ram.
Rosmah’s second attempt to recuse judge an abuse of court
process, says lead prosecutor. - The Malay Mail,Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:20 PM MYT
This is the second time the wife of former prime minister Datuk
Seri Najib Razak has filed the application after Judge Mohamed
Zaini, who is also the same judge in Rosmah’s solar hybrid case
trial, had rejected Rosmah’s application last Dec 14 to recuse him
from hearing the trial.

In delivering his judgment on that date, Justice Mohamed Zaini

said he took great care to ensure that Rosmah would not be
prejudiced in the money laundering case when references were
made to the statements in the solar case because a judge was
required to consider separately and independently the evidence
against the accused.

“Any findings that I make in the solar case remains there. It is after
all my solemn duty or of any judge, to ensure that the accused or
any accused for that matter, is tried fairly as enshrined under
Article 5 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Rosmah’s counsel Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin

responded to the prosecution’s argument by insisting that the
current application could not be said to have abused the court
Rosmah’s second attempt to recuse judge an abuse of court
process, says lead prosecutor. - The Malay Mail,Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:20 PM MYT
process as it stood on different grounds (risk of bias).

He said that Justice Mohamed Zaini’s role in several criminal

cases connected to Rosmah’s family including Najib might cause
the judge to not be able to carry his judicial function without having
pre-judged the issues, therefore posing a real danger of bias to his
client.

“It is pertinent to acknowledge and accept that ‘human frailty’ is an

important factor to be considered even when it comes to those
who are trained to be independent and fair-minded, because a
judge is a human after all,” he added.

Firoz also said that Justice Mohamed Zaini’s involvement in

multiple cases involving Rosmah might expose her to miscarriage
of justice and as a result, might diminish public confidence in the
judiciary and the administration of justice.

Justice Mohamed Zaini then fixed March 21 for the decision.

Rosmah’s second attempt to recuse judge an abuse of court
process, says lead prosecutor. - The Malay Mail,Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:20 PM MYT
Rosmah, 70, is facing 12 money laundering charges involving
RM7,097,750 and five counts of failure to declare her income to
the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad,

Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Jalan Ampang, here, between
December 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and at LHDN at Kompleks
Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, here, between
May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018. — Bernama
Isa Samad’s application for return of passport to be heard March 9
- The Malay Mail,Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 07:45 PM MYT
PUTRAJAYA, March 2 — The Appeals Court here set March 9
as the date to hear former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa
Abdul Samad’s application for the return of his passport.

He is seeking the return of his travel documents to allow him to

attend his daughter’s convocation at a university in the United
Kingdom at the end of this month.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz told reporters

when contacted that the court set the date for online case
management in front of assistant registrar Nurul Azrina
Mohamed Yusof today.

“Tan Sri Isa filed his application for the temporary return of his
passport on February 24,” he said, adding that the court also set
May 11 for further case management.

On February 3 last year, Isa, 72, was convicted on nine counts

of graft involving RM3 million related to the purchase of
Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak
Isa Samad’s application for return of passport to be heard March 9
- The Malay Mail,Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 07:45 PM MYT
and was sentenced to six years’ jail for each charge and fined
RM15.45 million, with an additional 18 years’ jail should he fail
to pay the fine.

Mohd Isa is only required to serve six years after Judge Datuk
Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (who is now an Appeals Court
judge) ordered all jail sentences to run concurrently.

The judge reached his verdict after finding that the prosecution
managed to prove their case for all the charges against Mohd
Isa.

The former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar filed his appeal on

February 4, 2021. — Bernama
Malaysia says it does not recognise French court’s US$14b award to
Sulu Sultanate heirs. – The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:10 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 — Malaysia will not recognise the
recent arbitration proceedings and subsequent award by a
court in France to the purported heirs of the Sulu Sultanate,
and maintains its sovereign immunity, said the Foreign
Ministry and attorney general (AG) in a joint statement here
today.

The statement said that the Spanish High Court had decided
in June 2020 that due process leading to the appointment of
the arbitrator was not properly served or consistent with the
Spanish High Court of Justice of Madrid’s case laws on the
service of process on sovereign states.

“As a consequence of the Nullification Decision, Dr Stampa is

not an arbitrator in the purported arbitration proceedings and,
therefore, all his decisions, including the Final Award, are null
and void.

“The Government of Malaysia completely rejects the purported

Final Award dated February 28, 2022, which was rendered by
Dr Stampa,” it said in reference to Gonzalo Stampa.
Malaysia says it does not recognise French court’s US$14b award to
Sulu Sultanate heirs. – The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:10 PM MYT
The Foreign Ministry and AG said the award rendered by
Stampa on February 28 not only violated Malaysia’s sovereign
immunity, but also was rendered in disregard of the Madrid
and Paris court decisions.

“The Government of Malaysia strongly opposes the Final

Award and upholds its position and stance to not recognise all
the actions taken by Dr Stampa in the purported arbitration
proceedings as well as all his illegal decisions and awards,”
said the statement.

It said that Malaysia did not participate in the purported

arbitration proceedings because it did not recognise the claim
and that it had always upheld and never waived its sovereign
immunity as a sovereign state.

The Foreign Ministry and AG said the Spanish public

prosecutor has filed a criminal complaint against Stampa for
serious contempt of court and professional intrusiveness.

They also said that the subject matter of the claim is not
Malaysia says it does not recognise French court’s US$14b award to
Sulu Sultanate heirs. – The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:10 PM MYT
commercial in nature and thus cannot be subject to
arbitration and the 1878 Agreement contains no arbitration
agreement.

“We further stress that the claimants’ identities are doubtful

and have yet to be verified.

“Malaysia will continue to take all necessary actions,

including legal actions, to put an end to the claim and to
ensure that Malaysia’s interests, sovereign immunity and
sovereignty are protected and preserved at all times,” they
said.

It was recently reported that a French court had ordered

Malaysia to pay the heirs of the now-defunct Sulu Sultanate
up to US$14.92 billion (RM62 billion) for violating a land
lease made in 1878 between the Sultan of Sulu at the time
Sultan Mohamet Jamal Al Alam and Baron de Overbeck
and Alfred Dent where the former granted and ceded
sovereign rights over certain territories located in North
Borneo.
Malaysia says it does not recognise French court’s US$14b award to
Sulu Sultanate heirs. – The Malay Mail, Wednesday, 02 Mar 2022 06:10 PM MYT
As a token, RM5,300 per year was to be paid to the then
Sultan of Sulu, his heirs or successors. However, Malaysia
stopped paying after the Lahad Datu armed invasion in 2013.

On January 14, 2020, the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak

heard a case by the heirs and declared that the 1878
Agreement did not contain any arbitration agreement; that
Malaysia had never waived its sovereign immunity; that the
arbitrator had no jurisdiction to resolve the matter; and that the
Sabah Court is the natural and proper forum to determine any
claim in connection with the 1878 Agreement.

Malaysia has also filed for the recognition and enforcement of

the Sabah High Court decision in the Spanish High Court of
Justice of Madrid but the application has yet to be heard.
Hearing of Najib's appeal to adduce further evidence remains on
March 15 as apex court rejects postponement bid. -theedgemarkets.com
March 02, 2022 17:42 pm +08
PUTRAJAYA (March 2): The Federal Court on Wednesday (March 2)
rejected former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application to
postpone this month's hearing of his appeal in the apex court to adduce
further evidence in relation to his SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

Hence, the hearing of the appeal will go ahead as scheduled on March 15

and 16, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul informed the
media upon receiving a reply from the Federal Court registrar's office.

“An email from the court came in around 11am informing parties that [the]
application to vacate was rejected and the matter will proceed as
scheduled on March 15 and 16,” he said.

On Monday, Najib through his lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee

Abdullah and Harvinderjit Singh had sought an adjournment of the appeal
to facilitate their quest to get more court documents.

Federal Court deputy registrar Siti Hajar Mustaffa, who case-managed the
matter on Monday, did not make an immediate decision on the request.

Najib is trying to adduce further evidence following the Malaysian

Hearing of Najib's appeal to adduce further evidence remains on
March 15 as apex court rejects postponement bid. -theedgemarkets.com
March 02, 2022 17:42 pm +08
Anti-Corruption Commission’s statement last November that it was looking
to repatriate funds in the Singapore bank account of Datuk Tawfiq Ayman
— the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti
Akhtar Aziz — that are purportedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd
(1MDB), the parent company of SRC.

Some US$15.4 million from Cutting Edge Industries Ltd, owned by Tawfik
and another person, was subsequently repatriated.

On Dec 7, Najib tried to have the Court of Appeal delay the handing down
of its verdict on his appeal against a conviction by the High Court in his
SRC case, but this was dismissed by the appellate court.

The next day (Dec 8), the appellate court unanimously upheld the
conviction and the jail sentence of 12 years and RM210 million fine
imposed by the High Court. It also described the SRC case as a “national
embarrassment”.

Najib was found guilty by the High Court of abuse of power in approving
Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP) loans of RM4 billion to SRC, and
three counts each of criminal breach of
Hearing of Najib's appeal to adduce further evidence remains on
March 15 as apex court rejects postponement bid. -theedgemarkets.com
March 02, 2022 17:42 pm +08
trust and money laundering of RM42 million belonging to SRC, of which he
was also the advisor emeritus.

This is Najib’s final appeal (to the Federal Court). He has indicated that he
plans to hire a Queen's counsel to argue his case in the apex court. Siti
Hajar has fixed April 8 to confirm the date of the application for the ad hoc
admission of the Queen's counsel.

Shafee is said to have left for the UK earlier this week to look into the
possibility of hiring a Queen's counsel.
Ex-NRD staff claims trial to 13 charges of forgery. - NST,March 2, 2022 @ 4:16pm
KOTA KINABALU: A former staff of the National Registration
Department (NRD) was charged with 13 counts of forging his
wife and daughter's health record books to issue 14 birth
certificates between 2012 and 2013.

Mhd Sofian Ishak, 34, who is a Sabahan, pleaded not guilty

before judge Abu Bakar Manat today.

The charges stated that Mhd Sofian had allegedly forged a copy
of a maternal health record book belonging to Zawani Shahirah
and a newborn baby gir's record book for the purpose of
cheating to issue a total of 14 birth certificates between 2012
and 2013 at the Kota Kinabalu NRD office here.

The offence under Section 468 of the Penal Code provides

imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and
shall also be liable to fine, upon conviction.

The court fixed Apr 22 for pre-trial case management.

Mhd Sofian was granted bail of RM10,000 but only RM6,000

was to be deposited to the court with a local surety.
Ex-NRD staff claims trial to 13 charges of forgery. - NST,March 2, 2022 @ 4:16pm
Abu Bakar also imposed additional conditions as requested by
the prosecution that the accused should report to the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office here once every
month and not to tamper with the prosecution witnesses.

Earlier, MACC prosecuting officer Dzulkarnain Rousan Hasbi

offered bail of RM10,000 with a local surety.

Dzulkarnain also applied several additional conditions to be

imposed on the accused.

In reply, the unrepresented accused asked the bail amount to be

reduced as he is no longer working at the NRD.

"I had resigned from NRD in 2015, and I'm currently self-
employed. However, my income is unstable due to the
pandemic. I was also declared bankrupt in 2016. So, I'm
struggling financially," said Mhd Sofian.

Mhd Sofian also told the court that he could only afford to pay
RM2,000 bail.