Eric Chia Acquitted Of CBT Charges
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Sessions Court here Tuesday acquitted and discharged Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock, the former managing director of Perwaja Steel Sdn Bhd, without calling for his defence on charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM76.4 million.
Judge Akhtar Tahir said the prosecution had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the 74-year-old Chia, who was charged more than three years ago. After the judgement, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nordin Hassan said he would have to have a discussion with Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail before determining the next course of action.
Senior DPP Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden was not present when the judge read out the judgement, which took 35 minutes. Yusof had led the prosecution team which closed its case on May 4 after calling 29 witnesses.
Both DPP Yusof and lead defence counsel Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah summed up their arguments verbally on May 31 and June 1, respectively. Yusof closed the prosecution's case in 34 pages, covering all evidence obtained from witnessess including from Hong Kong, Japan, Zurich and Geneva, while Muhammed Shafee's summing-up was contained in a 300-page document.
Chia had pleaded not guilty on Feb 10 2004 to the original charge of CBT of RM76.4 million by dishonestly authorising the payment of the money to the account of Frilsham Enterprise Incorporated with American Express Bank Ltd in Hong Kong for technical assistance provided for the Perwaja plant in Gurun, Kedah, when no such payment was due.
Alternatively, he was charged with dishonestly disposing of the funds by entering into an agreement with NKK Corporation of Japan and authorising the payment of the amount without the approval of the board of directors or tender committee of Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development Sdn Bhd. He was charged with having committed both offences in his capacity as managing director of Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development at its office in Menara UBN in Jalan P. Ramlee here between Nov 4 1993 and Feb 22 1994.
On both counts, he was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of between two and 20 years and whipping, and the liability of a fine upon conviction. In court today, Chia was allowed to sit behind the defence team due to his brittle diabetic condition.
Source : Bernama
Judge Akhtar Tahir said the prosecution had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the 74-year-old Chia, who was charged more than three years ago. After the judgement, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nordin Hassan said he would have to have a discussion with Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail before determining the next course of action.
Senior DPP Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden was not present when the judge read out the judgement, which took 35 minutes. Yusof had led the prosecution team which closed its case on May 4 after calling 29 witnesses.
Both DPP Yusof and lead defence counsel Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah summed up their arguments verbally on May 31 and June 1, respectively. Yusof closed the prosecution's case in 34 pages, covering all evidence obtained from witnessess including from Hong Kong, Japan, Zurich and Geneva, while Muhammed Shafee's summing-up was contained in a 300-page document.
Chia had pleaded not guilty on Feb 10 2004 to the original charge of CBT of RM76.4 million by dishonestly authorising the payment of the money to the account of Frilsham Enterprise Incorporated with American Express Bank Ltd in Hong Kong for technical assistance provided for the Perwaja plant in Gurun, Kedah, when no such payment was due.
Alternatively, he was charged with dishonestly disposing of the funds by entering into an agreement with NKK Corporation of Japan and authorising the payment of the amount without the approval of the board of directors or tender committee of Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development Sdn Bhd. He was charged with having committed both offences in his capacity as managing director of Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development at its office in Menara UBN in Jalan P. Ramlee here between Nov 4 1993 and Feb 22 1994.
On both counts, he was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of between two and 20 years and whipping, and the liability of a fine upon conviction. In court today, Chia was allowed to sit behind the defence team due to his brittle diabetic condition.
Source : Bernama
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