Aker Solutions senior VP charged with cheating

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior vice-president of an oil services company has claimed trial to a charge of cheating by making false representation involving the company’s ownership status.

Ahmad Hatta Kamaruzzaman, as an agent of Aker Solutions, was accused of submitting documents with intent to cheat a local oil and gas company to enlist Syarikat Aker Engineering Malaysia as a company with Bumiputera status.

According to the charge sheet, Ahmad Hatta allegedly cheated by hiding the company’s ownership status whereby its actual beneficiary was Aker Solutions Group.

The offence was allegedly committed in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7, 2018.

Ahmad Hatta, 50, was charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code and faces a maximum of five years in jail or fine or both, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin offered bail between RM10, 000 and RM20, 000 in one surety.

Lawyer S. Devanandan, who represented the accused, did not object and agreed to the prosecution’s offer.

Sessions Court judge Izralizam Sanusi fixed bail at RM20, 000 in one surety.

The case has been fixed for mention on July 30.

On Thursday (June 10), Aker Solutions told Reuters one of its managers was being questioned by the local authorities.

The Norwegian oil services firm has six subsidiaries registered in Malaysia, where its Asia Pacific headquarters is based, according to its 2020 annual report.