KUALA LUMPUR: A former customer relations manager of an international bank was charged in the Sessions Court today with 80 counts of breach of trust, misappropriation of property, forgery of documents, and cheating involving 155 gold bars worth over RM6 million belonging to customers.
Mohd Saibulrijal Mohd Saad, 46, was charged before Judge Azrul Darus for committing the crimes between 2020 and 2021.
For 26 counts of cheating, he was accused of deceiving several bank officials by inducing them to believe that some customers intended to withdraw and buy 155 gold bars.
Gold bars of various weights were purported to be withdrawn and bought using 'Gold Safe Keeping Service Withdrawal Forms' said to be signed by the customers.
All the offences were committed at a bank branch in Bangsar, between 2pm and 4.30pm from July 14, 2020, to August 27, 2021.
He is charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries up to 10 years in jail and whipping and can also be fined if found guilty.
For 46 counts of document forgery, Saibulrijal is accused of using genuine documents at the same bank, between 9am and 4pm, between October 15, 2019, and January 13, 2021.
He is charged under Section 471 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of two years or a fine or both upon conviction.
The accused is also charged with misusing property, namely 33 gold bars weighing between 0.05kg and 1kg owned by three female bank customers.
He was accused of committing the offence at the same bank, between August 12 and 24, 2021.
For that, Saibulrijal is charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of imprisonment between six months and five years and whipping and can also be fined if found guilty of misappropriation charges.
For the breach of trust offence, he was accused of misappropriating property, namely two gold bars, each weighing 500gm, belonging to a 75-year-old woman with the title Datin.
The offence, under Section 406 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and whipping and can also be fined if found guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Rohaiza Zainal prosecuted, while Saibulrijal was not represented.
In his plea to reduce bail, Saibulrijal told the court that he was facing another charge at a different court, and was still in remand.
"My passport has been seized and I cannot go anywhere. Please reduce the bail and allow the court to give me space to discuss with my family for the appointment of a lawyer," he said.
Judge Azrul confirmed that the accused was granted bail of RM465,000 for the entire case along with the additional condition that the passport must be surrendered to the court before the next mention of the case on April 26 for the submission of documents and appointment of a lawyer.
Last July, it was reported that Saibulrijal was acquitted of five cases involving falsifying documents and cheating in gold bullion transactions, but was recharged with 47 counts of cheating involving losses amounting to RM3.1 million, between March and June 2021.