SHAH ALAM: Two former directors of an investment company involved in unlicensed deposit taking claimed trial at the Sessions Court today with receiving more than RM34,000 from a victim four years ago.
Suchart Ee@ Quah,58,and his wife, Kamontip Chu@ Chim,50, pleaded not guilty after they were jointly charged under Section 137(1) of the Financial Services Act 2013 before judge Muhamad Anas Mahadzir.
The charge sheet read that the couple, with a friend, received a RM34,387 deposit without a valid license required under Section 10 of the Act from a man at a bank in Ampang on Oct 27,2020.
The offence, punishable under Section 137(2) of the same Act read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, carries imprisonment up to 10 years and a RM50 million maximum fine or both.
Deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Zafirah Syed Mustapa proposed RM10,000 bail for each accused.
She applied for the couple to report to the nearest police station and their passport to be surrendered to the court.
In mitigation, the couple's counsel, Daniel Savarimuthu said his clients from Arau, Perlis, who have three children, were jobless and have no income.
He said on Monday, they were charged in Melaka for a similar offence and had used their savings to pay a bail of RM16,000.
"I plead for a bail amount that they can afford and they have promised to cooperate and attend every court proceedings.
"I ask the court to set bail at RM7,000 for each accused," he said.
He said the Melaka court had ordered the couple to report to the nearest police station as additional condition.
Judge Muhamad Anas fixed RM8,000 bail with one surety for each accused and set July 4 for mention.
He reminded Suchart that if he and his wife, as well as their bailor, did not attend court proceedings, the bail will be cancelled and the sum forfeited.
"You will be detained in prison until case disposal. Do you understand?" he said.
To this, Suchart replied he understood.
On Monday, the couple claimed trial at the Melaka Sessions Court on a charge of illegally receiving deposit worth RM68,385 from a man.
They committed the offence at Syarikat Giganation Gib Berhad at Jalan BBP 1, Taman Bukit Beruang Permai on Jan 22,2020.
In the proceedings, Daniel had told the court that his clients faced seven similar charges in the Penang and Kedah courts and had paid RM65,000 bail.
In December last year, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said police crippled three scam operations, including the infamous 'Giganation GIB Berhad, where victims had lost up to RM3.9 million.