BUTTERWORTH: A former executive administration officer of a security control company was charged in the Sessions Court here today with 29 counts of embezzling company funds totaling more than RM350,000.
The accused, M Vijairani, 44, however, pleaded not guilty and requested that all charges be tried, as read by the interpreter before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.
According to the charges, the accused, who was then employed as an executive administration officer, was entrusted with managing the company's assets but dishonestly embezzled a total of over RM350,000.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed at Force One Protection (M) Sdn Bhd in Jalan Chain Ferry, Taman Inderawasih, Perai, from April 20, 2021, to May 25, 2023.
The prosecution was presented under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which stipulates imprisonment for a term between one to 14 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
The case was handled by Deputy public prosecutor Wan Amira Ruzaini Wan Abdul Razak, while the accused was represented by lawyer G Shanmugam.
During the proceedings, the prosecution requested that no bail be offered to the accused due to the seriousness of the offences committed.
However, the accused's lawyer appealed for his client's bail to be set collectively for all charges and allegations faced, as the accused, a single mother raising two children aged 10 and 11, no longer has income and has to support a 74-year-old mother.
Moreover, the accused had no previous criminal record and was willing to comply with any additional conditions imposed on her.
The judge then allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM3,000 for each charge involving a total amount of RM87,000, with two guarantors earning a monthly income of RM5,000 and above.
Additionally, the accused was required to surrender travel documents to the court until the trial is concluded.
The case will be mentioned again on Jan 24 for document submission.
