KUALA LUMPUR: A Dutch businessman will stand trial on Dec 16 for allegedly using a forged “bill of exchange” worth RM604mil for the purpose of donating it to a royal foundation here.
Zvonko Berdik Albert, 64, who claimed that he is the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian-based Bedford International Financial Group, will have his case heard before Sessions Court judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah.
He had pleaded not guilty to dishonestly using as genuine a “Bill of Exchange from Bedford International Financial Group” amounting to €150mil (RM604mil) for the purpose of donating it to Yayasan Diraja Sultan Mizan when he knew it was a forged document.
He was accused of committing the offence at Istana Terengganu in Jalan Kia Peng here at noon on April 16. Bank Negara officer Azizul Adzani Abdul Ghafar lodged a complaint over the matter on April 19. If found guilty, he can be jailed up to 20 years and fined under Section 467 of the Penal Code.
Yesterday, his lead counsel Karpal Singh applied for trial dates to be set for the case. Komathy fixed Dec 16 to 17 and Dec 20 to Dec 23 for hearing.
Karpal also told the court that he would apply for the release of his client’s passport as Albert needed a temporary release of his passport to travel to Cambodia on Saturday for business.
The judge set today to hear the application for the release of his passport.
Albert, who claimed trial to the charge on May 4, was released on RM50,000 bail in two Malaysian sureties about two weeks ago.
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