Ex-bank officer freed of CBT charges
Two others charged with abetting her also acquitted
GEORGE TOWN: A former bank officer was acquitted of charges of misappropriating more than RM14mil, while her lawyer husband and another person were also absolved of charges of abetting her.
Sessions Court judge Zanol Rashid Hussain acquitted and discharged Aishah Mohamed Rose, 52, her husband Johari Ahmad, 55, and former logistics officer Azman Abdul Aziz, 51, after a full trial.
Aishah was charged with five counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM14,205,366.51 belonging to Bank Muamalat at its Universiti Sains Malaysia branch in Gelugor here between Jan 27, 2005 and July 16, 2009, while Johari and Azman were charged with five counts of abetting her.
CBT under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years, whipping and a possible fine upon conviction, while abetment under Section 109 carries the same punishment as the principal offence.
Azman was also freed of 10 charges of money laundering involving RM988,464.32 between April 17 and July 14, 2009.
The offence under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act carries a fine of up to RM5mil or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Zanol Rashid said the prosecution failed to prove the elements of the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Aishah and Johari were represented by counsel Md Yusuf Md Idris and Azman was represented by counsel Zamri Idrus while the deputy public prosecutors were M. Puveneswaran and Pang Chuin Keat.
On Oct 4 last year, Aishah and Johari were sentenced to a total of 15 years’ jail each by a Sessions Court here for a separate charge of committing CBT and money laundering involving more than RM1.5mil.
The couple are on bail at RM150,000 each pending their appeal to the High Court, which will be heard on Sept 18.