Crime & Courts

Husband, wife claim trial to using fake invoices, CBT involving RM145 million

SHAH ALAM: A married couple was hauled to the Sessions Court here today on multiple counts of using fake invoices for the payment of non-existent prefabricated structural steel supplies, criminal breach of trust (CBT) and abetment involving over RM145 million.

Datuk Lee Son Hong who faced 11 counts of using fake invoices and CBT and his wife Too Sooi Keng, who faced seven counts of abetting her husband in the CBT offences, pleaded not guilty before Sessions judge Rozilah Salleh.

According to the first three counts, Lee, 63, had in his capacity as an agent which was the chief executive officer (CEO) of WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd used three invoices under the name of Tower Success Group Ltd dated March 27, 2015, Aug 18, 2015 and Dec 22, 2015, totalling RM8.4 million which contained false details intended to deceive the principal.

The purported details were for the payment of supplies of "Pre-Fabricate Structural Steel For Surgical Packing Plant Size: 280' x 400' x40' (H)" which were never carried out.

Lee allegedly committed the offences at WRP Asia Pacific Bhd, Lot 1, Jalan 3, Kawasan Perusahaan Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang, Selangor between March 27, 2015 and Dec 12 the same year.

The offences under Section 24 (2) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carry a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of five times the value of the offence committed, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

On the fourth to eleventh counts, Lee was accused of having in the same capacity committed CBT on a total of RM137 million which was entrusted to him by the company.

He allegedly committed the offences at the same place between Dec 12, 2013, and Dec 27, 2016.

The offences under Section 409 of the Penal Code carry an imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years and not more than twenty years and with whipping and also a fine, upon conviction.

Meanwhile, his wife Too, 63, was charged with seven counts of abetting him in the CBT offences involving RM108 million.

The offences were allegedly committed at the same place between Dec 12, 2013, and Jan 18, 2018.

The charges against her were under Section 109 of the Penal Code read with Section 409 and carry the same punishment.

The prosecution did not offer bail to both accused saying that the offences were non-bailable.

However, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said if the court were to allow bail, he proposed the amount of RM2 million with an additional condition of surrendering their passports to the court for Lee was a flight risk.

"He has children who live and work abroad. One is in Hong Kong and the other is in the United Kingdom. The accused was today charged and is facing a 20 year jail term for each charge. He might have come to court voluntarily (while on police bail) today but his position may change. He is a flight risk.

"We also believe that the amount of RM2 million for bail is not that high as we have information that the accused is also a director at several other companies and has income. So, RM2 million could be considered very little to him," he said.

Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mokhzany Fariz Mokhtar proposed RM1.5 million bail for Too and the same additional conditions proposed by Akram.

In pleading for lower bail, Lee's counsel P.G Cyril said his client was no longer the CEO of WRP Asia Pacific and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his business was not as usual.

"He had came voluntarily to court today on police bail. He had never failed to show up whenever he was called to give his statement," he said.

Too's lawyer Nur Aminahtul Mardiah Md Nor also pleaded for a lower bail saying her client who was a florist was a first time offender.

She added that her client was no longer working but her name was still listed as one of the directors of WRP Asia Pacific.

The court then allowed RM1.5 million bail in one surety for each accused and ordered them to surrender their passports to the court.

Their case will be up for mention on Jan 4 next year.

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