EX-LAWYER CLAIMS TRIAL TO CBT CHARGE
Sum was payment for property, but allegedly utilised for personal use
AFORMER lawyer claimed trial yesterday at the Sessions Court here to committing criminal breach of trust involving RM2.25 million, which was meant for a property transaction.
Mohd Haidar@Hasmayudin Mohd Hashim, 45, who was a lawyer at the time, was alleged to have committed the offence at his legal firm Mohd Haidar & Co at No 2-2, Tower 3, Bangsar Avenue 3, Jalan Kerinchi, near here, between May 1 and July 1 last year.
The money was payment from property buyers Soo Hoo Ling and Chan Kum Sum to property seller Noraini Shikh Muhamad Bahari. Haidar was alleged to have utilised that money for personal use.
Deputy public prosecutor Kamarul Aris Kamalluddin requested the court to impose a bail of RM100,000 with one surety and order Haidar to surrender his passport to the court.
Haidar, who had suffered a stroke in Melbourne, stood from his wheelchair to ask for the bail to be lowered to between RM20,000 and RM30,000 due to his medical condition.
“I suffered a stroke when I was in Melbourne and incurred a medical bill of AUS$310,000, or about RM1 million, at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The RM100,000 sought by the prosecution is too big of an amount for me.”
Judge Zulqarnain Hassan set bail at RM40,000 with one surety and ordered Haidar to surrender his passport to the court. He fixed hearing on July 11. Meanwhile, in another Sessions Court, a former assistant manager of a club claimed trial to three charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM10,650.
Lew Mun Soon, 24, was alleged to have committed the offences involving money, which was Goldhill Club’s collection that was entrusted in his care, at the club’s premises in Bandar Menjalara, Kepong, near here, over a period of five days, beginning Jan 15.
Deputy public prosecutor Faridah Nurdinie Baharom did not offer bail, but told the court that if bail was granted, the amount should not be less than RM10,000, with additional conditions.
Counsel Muniandy Veeran in seeking a reasonable bail said his client worked with his father at their fruit stall in Sungai Buloh.
“Lew’s father earns RM3,500 as a fruit seller and is supporting three other children. The court should impose a reasonable bail of RM5,000.”
Judge Hasbullah Adam set bail at RM9,000 and fixed July 6 for mention.