Senior lawyer charged over RM9mil cheating case

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior lawyer was charged in the Sessions Court here with cheating and embezzling his client's money in a land deal worth RM9.05mil.

How Chee Hong, 48, claimed trial to misappropriating RM9,056,124 meant as a deposit to purchase a plot of land in the Kuala Lumpur district.

He also pleaded not guilty to an alternate charge of cheating his client, land developer Datuk Azizi Yom Ahmad, into believing that he could get an agreement from the owners of the land.

According to the charge sheet, Azizi was induced to deposit RM9,056,124 into the account of a law firm, Kumar Jaspal Quah & Aishah, where How was a partner.

The alleged offences occurred at the CIMB Bank on Jalan Solaris, Solaris Mont Kiara, here between Dec 24, 2010 and Jan 4, 2012. 

The first charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust is punishable by up to 20 years prison, whipping and a fine.

The alternate charge under Section 420 for cheating is punishable by up to 10 years prison, whipping and a fine.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhd Ilhami Ahmad urged the court to fix bail at RM500,000, given the large amount of money allegedly embezzled.

How's counsel Datuk K. Kumaraendran plead for lower bail, saying his client had a blemish-free record over the last 24 years in legal practice. 

Judge Abdul Rashid Daud allowed bail at RM300,000 with one surety, and set April 8 for mention.