KUANTAN: A former Felda manager claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today to 13 counts of misusing bank cheques totalling RM54,742 some four years ago.
Shahril Shahadan, 41, who previously served at Felda Lepar Utara Satu, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out by the court translator, taking some 20 minutes, in front of Judge Mohd Sabri Ismail.
Based on the charge sheets, the father-of-four had fraudulently misused 13 bank cheques amounting to RM54,742 belonging to Felda Lepar Utara Satu.
He had allegedly committed the offence at a financial institution at Bandar Jengka, Maran between Jan 23, 2020 and Sept 29, 2020.
The charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum five years' imprisonment and whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Clad in black jacket and pants, Shahril also claimed trial to 13 alternative charges of misuse of property, in the form of cheques totalling RM54,742 belonging to Felda Lepar Utara Satu which was supposed to be paid to one Rimbun Kasih Enterprise.
He had dishonestly misappropriated the cheques for his own interest and committed the offence at the same place and date.
The charges were framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum 10 years' imprisonment and whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC) deputy public prosecutor Rif'ah Izzati Abdul Mutalif proposed RM25,000 bail with additional conditions for the accused to surrender his passport to the court and report to the nearest MACC office every month.
Lawyer Siti Azizah Mulian who represented Shahril, pleaded for a lower bail amount saying her client had to support his four children who were still attending school along with his elderly parents and in-laws.
"My client had no previous records and gave full cooperation throughout investigations over the past three years. He is still working with Felda," she told the court.
Sabri set RM20,000 bail and ordered the accused to report to the nearest MACC office every month. He fixed April 5 for mention of the case.