Lawyer, legal manager charged with CBT, involving RM1.2 million

PETALING JAYA: A lawyer and a legal manager were charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with criminal breach of trust (CBT) and abetment, respectively, involving more than RM1.2 million, from the balance in the sale of a house belonging to their client’s company two years ago.

The lawyer, Mohd Faidzol Rahimi Ibrahim, 42, and legal manager K. Maragatham, 54,however, pleaded not guilty to their respective charges before judge Norshila Kamaruddin.

Mohd Faidzol, who was then a lawyer for R.S. Paragash, 67, and entrusted with RM1,216,065.75 in balance payment from the sale of a house belonging to the client, had misused the money, while Maragatham was charged with abetting Mohd Faidzol in committing the crime.

They were alleged to have committed the offence at Messrs Mohd Faidzol Rahimi & Partners, Advocate Solicitors Suite 505, Level 5, Block A, Kelana Bussiness Center, Kelana Jaya here between June 2 and Aug 23, 2016.

Mohd Faidzol was charged under Section 409 of the penal Code, which provides and imprisonment for up to 20 years and whipping, and is liable to fi ne, if found guilty.

As for Maragatham, she was also charged under the same section, but read together with Section 109 of the same law, which provides a similar punishment upon conviction.

They were allowed bail of RM20,000 in one surety each.

Deputy public prosecutor Ng Wee Li prosecuted, while Mohd Faidzol and Maragatham were represented by lawyer Datuk Suraj Singh.

The court set Sept 28 for mention. — Bernama