KUALA LUMPUR: A former clerk to songstress Datuk Sheila Majid was sentenced to four years jail by the Sessions Court for misusing RM90,000 belonging to the artiste's entertainment production company.
Judge Zulqarnain Hassan delivered the sentence on Nasimah Kamarudin, 39, after finding her guilty of the offence.
“The court finds that the defence has failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case and is therefore convicted of the offence," he said.
In sentencing, the judge said such cases are constantly happening in the country and the court must impose a deterrent sentence on the accused.
"The offence committed has given a negative impact on the financial system in the country and the court must consider public interest," Zulqarnain said.
However, the court allowed a stay of execution pending appeal with the bail amount increased from RM10,000 to RM18,000.
In pleading for leniency, counsel Ahmad Shamil Azad Abdul Hamid said the loss suffered by the complainant was significantly less as 60 per cent of the amount had been compensated by the bank.
He added that Nasimah, who was a single mother, needed to care for her children aged 11 and nine.
Deputy public prosecutor Faridah Nurdinie Bahrum submitted for a deterrent sentence, asking the court to consider public interest.
A total of four prosecution witnesses were called to testify while Nasimah testified in her own defence.
On Dec 24, 2014, Nasimah, who was jazz queen Sheila Majid's ex-clerk, was charged with committing criminal breach of trust involving a bank cheque book that belonged to Magada Entertainment Sdn Bhd.
The mother of two was accused of cashing five cheques and depositing eight more into her own bank account for her own benefit.
She committed the offence with the cheques worth RM90,000 in total at the company's premises at No. 32, Jalan Balau, Damansara Heights, Brickfields, between Nov 1, 2007 and March 28, 2008.
She was arrested on April 28, 2014 after a police report was lodged against her by the singer, whose real name is Shaheila Abdul Majid.
The complainant is also the company's managing director.