Paralysed lawyer charged with stealing money from client

KUALA A wheelchair-bound lawyer was charged in the Sessions Court here with criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving more than RM400,000 belonging to a client.

Mohd Haidar @ Hasmayuyudin Mohd Hashim, 45, who was a lawyer at Messrs Mohd Haidar & Co, was entrusted with RM402,500 as the balance of a full payment for the purchase of a double-storey house in Bandar Baru Selayang last year.

He is accused of committing CBT by using the money for his personal purpose.

The amount was paid by V. Ananthi and her husband M.S. Loganathan to the seller, Mohd Hazizi Saodi, as stated in the Sale and Purchase Agreement dated Nov 29, 2015.

The offence was allegedly committed at Messrs Mohd Haidar & Co at Tower 3, Bangsar Avenue 3, Jalan Kerinchi here on Sept 8 last year.

Mohd Haidar claimed trial before judge Azman Ahmad.

His co-accused, lawyer Ahmad Ansor Muhd Rivai Batubara, also 45, did not turn up in court yesterday and a warrant of arrest was issued against him.

Mohd Haidar, in asking for a lower bail, said he had been paralysed since June due to a stroke last year and could not go anywhere. He said 90% of his time was spent in hospital undergoing physiotherapy.

Azman fixed bail at RM10,000 in one surety and ordered Mohd Haidar to surrender his passport.

The court set Aug 22 for mention.

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