‘Datuk Seri’ title of businessman in RM19 mln cheating case revoked
The Pahang palace has revoked the ‘Datuk Seri’ of a businessman who was yesterday charged with three counts of cheating a managing director of RM19 million in a graft probe on the Penang Undersea Tunnel Project two years ago.
Pahang State secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak said in a letter dated March 13 that the Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang award, which was conferred on M. G. Gnanaraja, on March 19, 2014, had been revoked and cancelled with immediate effect.
The award, which carries the title “Datuk Seri”, was granted in conjunction with Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah’s 83rd birthday.
Dr Sallehuddin also said Gnanaraja would not be allowed to use the “Datuk Seri” title any longer and must return the award to the protocol and official events management division of the state secretary’s office.
Gnanaraja, 38, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday after all the charges were read out before judge Rozilah Salleh.
He was alleged to have deceived the managing director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd into believing that he (Gnanaraja) was able to close an investigation initiated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against him (victim) for an offence under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The act prompted the managing director to hand over to him (Gnanaraja) cash of RM4 million and another RM15 million through a Maybank account belonging to Visione Construction Sdn Bhd to a CIMB Bank account belonging to Bumi Muhibbah Capital Holding Sdn Bhd.
Gnanaraja was alleged to have committed all the offences at a hotel in Damansara and a bank in Kuala Lumpur in July and August 2017.
He was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code and faced an imprisonment for up to 10 years and whipping and is liable to fine, if found guilty.
Consortium Zenith Construction is the main contractor for the undersea tunnel project.
The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar, from MACC, offered bail of RM100,000 in one surety.