Mother of two denies committing RM37,310 CBT

KOTA KINABALU: A mother of two claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving a total of RM37,310, belonging to three residents of a home for disabled people.

Anita Yaw Yun Moi, 31, who appeared before judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim, faces three charges framed under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of not less than a year and not more than 14 years, and with whipping and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

On the first to the third charge, Anita, who is an employee at Bukit Harapan Welfare Home for disabled people, was alleged to have committed CBT to the property of Chang Li Mei, 17, Chang Li Ken, 18, and Sherly Olivia Kamius, 16, of their RM13,300, RM12,750 and RM11,260, respectively.

Anita, who was entrusted with the money, was alleged to have breached the trust given to her by her employer, Matilda Audra Keyworth, 49, and had withdrawn the money periodically without anyone knowing.

The alleged offence took place at Bukit Harapan, Jalan Tuaran Bypass Manggatal here between November 22, 2017 until May 21, 2018.

In the proceeding, Anita, who was not represented, prayed to be granted bail on the grounds that she has two children aged 11 and seven months who needed her support.

She also claimed that the sevenmonth-old infant, who was outside the courtroom, was unhealthy and crying for her as she was still breastfeeding the baby.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Faezah Jafry, who initially objected to bail due to the nature of such offence being a nonbailable offence, suggested bail of RM15,000 in a local surety as well as the accused to report to the nearest police station.

The court set July 8-10 this year for trial and allowed the accused to be bailed at RM10,000, fully deposited, in a local surety and to report at Tuaran police station twice a month, pending disposal of the case.