KUALA LUMPUR: A bank officer and her husband will be tried for three
days from Dec 17 for allegedly withdrawing RM85,180 from the bank accounts of four people aboard missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Sessions Court judge Norsharidah Awang fixed the hearing dates today
after being informed that accused Nur Shila Kanan and Basheer Ahmad Maula Sahul Hameed had engaged a lawyer yesterday.
The couple's lawyer Ummi Aliza Abd Kadir told the court today that she would need time to go through documents on her clients as she only took up their case yesterday.
Norsharidah Awang also fixed case management on Oct 31 for exchange of documents before trial. Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Fadhli Mahmud conducted prosecution.
The couple, both 33, pleaded not guilty on Aug 20, to siphoning RM85,180 from the accounts of Chinese nationals Ju Kun and Tian Jun Wei, and Malaysians Hue Pui Heng and Tan Size Hiang, who was a steward on the flight.
Nur Shila was charged with 12 principal charges of stealing money from the victims' accounts via online banking and cheating her bank supervisor, Nor Aini Derus @ Mat Rose, with a false debit card application.
She allegedly perpetrated the offences at her workplace, a HSBC bank branch at No. 2, Jalan Lebuh Ampang here, between May 14 and July 14.
Mechanic Basheer was charged with four principal charges of using automated teller machine (ATM) and debit cards to withdraw RM7,650 from Tian's account.
He allegedly committed the offences at a HSBC ATM at Amanah Ampang Point in Ampang, Selangor, between May 15 and June 29.
Both accused also pleaded not guilty to four alternative counts of stealing money from HSBC accounts.
They face a fine of up to RM150,000, jail term of between two and 10 years and whipping upon conviction.
Nur Shila and Basheer are currently out on RM12,000 bail with one surety each.