OCT 18 Mention of Pempena Case

The Sessions Court here today set Oct 18 for mention of a case involving Tourism Malaysia director-general Mirza Mohammad Taiyab and former Pembangunan Pelancongan Malaysia Berhad (Pempena) chief operating officer Mohammad Rosly Md Selamat who are charged with criminal breach of trust, involving RM888,000, three years ago.

Judge Azizah Mahamod set the date after lawyers B Muralidharan and Rejender Singh, who represented Mirza and Mohammad Rosly, respectively, requested the court's permission to send a representation on the charge to the Attorney-general.

Last Aug 16, Mirza, 53, and Mohammad Rosly, 56, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

According to the charge sheet, the duo were alleged to have committed the CBT when approving payment amounting to RM888,000, which was deposited into the account of LCL Interior LCL Dubai through Manshreq Bank Dubai, Dubai.

They are alleged to have approved the payment for a Restoran Malaysia project in Dubai when in fact the terms for approval had not been met.

They are charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code and are liable to be jailed up to 20 years, and fined and can also be whipped, if convicted.

The duo are alleged to have committed the offence at Pempena's office at Menara Dato' Onn, Putra World Trade Centre here on Feb 27, 2007.

Deputy public prosecutor Rebecca Matham prosecuted.

Meanwhile, in a separate Sessions Court, judge Rozana Ali Yusoff set Dec 2 to mention a case involving Mohammad Rosly and former Pempena financial controller Lim Khing Ta, also for CBT involving RM169,770 four years ago.

Rozana fixed the date to enable the defence to submit their representation to the prosecution.

Mohammad Rosly and Lim had pleaded not guilty to the offence when the charge was read to them on last Aug 16.

They are jointly charged, in their capacities as the office bearers, with committing the offence by dishonestly paying RM169,770, via four Bumiputra Commerce Berhad cheques, to Ummi Hafilda Ali as sponsorship fee to organise a Amr Diab concert despite knowing that the payment had yet to be approved by Pempena's board of directors.

The offence was allegedly committed at the office of Pempena Sdn Bhd, 29th Floor, Menara Dato' Onn, Putra World Trade Centre, on Aug 15, 2006.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Anas Mahadzir prosecuted.

- Bernama