KUALA LUMPUR: The managing partner of an audit firm has been charged at two Sessions Courts here with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM2.4mil worth of funds belonging to an investment company.
Datuk CR Narendrakumar, 72, who is the country managing partner of Grant Thornton Malaysia, was charged with five counts of CBT amounting to RM1,474,237.81 before Sessions Court judge Bakri Abd Majid.
In another Sessions Court, he was charged with three counts of CBT amounting to RM909,132.50 before Sessions Court judge Sabariah Othman.
Narendrakumar was alleged to have committed the crime in his capacity as a manager and receiver of Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd over deposits belonging to Pelangi Prestasi Sdn Bhd.
The offences were allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Bhd, Bangunan Commerce Life, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman between Jan 16, 2020 and Dec 6, 2020.
The charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries imprisonment between two and 20 years with whipping and fine, if convicted.
Narendrakumar pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Before Judge Bakri, DPP Zulaaikha Mohd Apandi did not offer bail on grounds that CBT was a non-bailable offence.
The prosecution however suggested RM100,000 bail for the first two charges and another RM100,000 for the next three charges, if the court exercises its discretion to grant bail.
Narendrakumar's lawyer AG Kalidas asked for a lower bail amount.
"My client is 72 years old and suffers from health issues. He is not a flight risk," Kalidas said.
The lawyer said Narendrakumar was a reputable man who worked for an audit and consulting firm.
Bakri fixed a total bail of RM60,000 for all five charges in one surety.
Meanwhile, before Judge Sabariah, DPP Lim Chooi Yi did not offer bail.
Sabariah set bail at RM50,000 bail for all three charges.
Both courts also ordered for Narendrakumar to surrender his passport to the court.
The cases are fixed for mention on Oct 14.
