Former international school staff claims trial to cheating, CBT involving over RM142,000
A. Komala, 33, who served as a parent liaison executive and personal assistant at the time, is accused of misappropriating the sum for personal use at the school located in Persiaran Stonor, Dang Wangi, between June 11 and 28 last year.
She was charged under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between one and 14 years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Komala also faces two counts of cheating two Japanese men by deceiving them into believing that the school fee invoices she issued for their children were legitimate.
The alleged deception prompted the victims to transfer RM94,509 and RM47,845.10 respectively into a bank account under a company owned by the accused's husband — payments they would not have made had they not been misled.
The offences were allegedly committed at the same place and during the same period.
The cheating charges were framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Mohd Radzuan proposed bail at RM30,000 with one surety for all charges, while defence counsel Kelvinder Singh Sindhu appealed for a lower amount, citing that the accused is financially supporting her family.
Judge Azrul Darus allowed bail at RM30,000 with one surety and set July 15 for mention.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Grandfather defends parents in autistic child neglect case
PETALING JAYA: The grandfather of six-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin testified in court today, insisting his son and daughter-in-law were loving parents who would never neglect or harm their autistic child. Zahari Mohd Reba, 57, appeared as a defence witness in the trial of Ismanira Abdul Manaf, stating that both she and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan, deeply cared for their late son. 'Zayn was my beloved grandson. If either of his parents were not working, I would make sure they came over to spend time with him. He was very close to his parents. I believe my son and daughter-in-law were not involved in his death,' Zahari said during examination-in-chief by defence lawyer Haresh Mahadevan. The grandfather described his grief over losing his eldest grandchild, emphasising the strong bond Zayn shared with his parents. Under cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Zahari confirmed that Zayn, who was autistic, needed constant care and had a close relationship with both parents. He also agreed that Ismanira and Zaim treated Zayn and his younger sibling equally. On Monday, Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, requiring Ismanira to enter her defence. Her husband, Zaim Ikhwan, 30, was acquitted of the same charge. The couple had been accused of neglecting Zayn in a manner likely to cause physical harm between December 5 and 6, 2023, near Block R of Idaman Apartment, Damansara Damai, and a nearby river. They faced charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail, a RM50,000 fine, or both. The trial resumes tomorrow. – Bernama
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Zayn Rayyan's parents would have never harmed him, says grandfather
PETALING JAYA: The grandfather of the late Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin has told the Sessions Court here that his son and daughter-in-law were devoted parents and would never have neglected or harmed the six-year-old boy. Zahari Mohd Reba, 57, testified during the defence proceedings of Ismanira Abdul Manaf, saying both she and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan, loved their autistic son dearly. "Zayn was my beloved grandson. If either of his parents were not working, I would make sure they came over to spend time with him. "He was very close to his parents. I believe my son (Zaim Ikhwan) and daughter-in-law (Ismanira) were not involved in his death," Zahari said during examination-in-chief by defence lawyer Haresh Mahadevan. The second defence witness added that he was heartbroken by the loss of his eldest grandchild. When questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Zahari confirmed that Zayn Rayyan, who was autistic, required constant care and shared a close bond with both parents. He also agreed with the prosecution's suggestion that Ismanira and Zaim treated Zayn Rayyan and his younger sibling equally. On Monday, Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and ordered Ismanira to enter her defence. Her husband Zaim Ikhwan, 30, was discharged and acquitted of the same charge. The couple had been accused of neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical harm between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023, in the vicinity of Block R of Idaman Apartment, Damansara Damai and a nearby river. They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' jail, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both. The trial continues tomorrow. – Bernama
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Lim Guan Eng told businessman to open account for bribes, court hears
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng instructed a businessman to open a bank account to funnel bribes linked to the Penang Undersea Tunnel project, the Sessions Court heard today. G. Gnanaraja said the DAP chairman told him this during their first meeting while travelling inside Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli's car on Aug 20, 2017. CZCSB was the company awarded the RM6.34 billion Penang undersea tunnel project. The 42-year-old businessman said this while testifying as a key prosecution witness in Lim's corruption trial involving the construction of a major road and undersea tunnel project in Penang worth RM6.3 billion. Lim is also the Bagan Member of Parliament. Gnanaraja said he used his company, Bumi Muhibah Holding Sdn Bhd, as the vehicle to channel bribe payments to Lim. "The company was established on Aug 10, 2016, and registered under the names Aminah Madian and Mohd Rezal Jantan as directors. "Later, in August 2017, I intended to use this company as the vehicle for bribe payments to Lim. "This company has only one bank account, and I was the sole person authorised to withdraw money from it. "All the requests to set up the company and its account were made while I was with Lim in a car on the way to Publika on Aug 20, 2017. "Lim also had personally viewed the company's Form 49 during a visit to my house on Aug 29, the same year. "He wanted to see the document to gain personal confidence in the company's management and the preparation of its documents. "Form 49 contained details of the company's directors, managers, and secretary," he said while testifying before Judge Azura Alwi today. Gnanaraja said he was chosen to act as the middleman between Lim and Zarul because he was not affiliated with any opposition parties at the time. He recounted his first task as the middleman when he received RM2 million in cash from Zarul near Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya for the purpose of delivering it to Lim on Aug 18, 2017. He said Zarul had put two dark-coloured bags with hand straps and and placed them directly into the boot of his Bentley. Gnanaraja said he knew the bags contained cash because as Zarul placed the first bag, he said "1M," and repeated the same as he placed the second. By "1M", he understood that Zarul meant RM1 million. He said that on Aug 20, Zarul contacted him and said they needed to pick up Lim at the Wen Worth Hotel near Pudu. However, the trial was cut short after Gnanaraja began coughing severely and said he was feeling unwell. Lim is facing four charges of using his position as the then Penang chief minister to solicit gratification to help Zarul's company secure the undersea tunnel project. He was alleged to have sought 10 per cent of the profit to be made by the company from Zarul. He was also accused of receiving RM3.3 million for himself and causing two plots of land belonging to the state government to be disposed of to two companies linked to the undersea tunnel project. The trial is set to resume on Aug 19.
