KUALA LUMPUR: Another top-ranking military officer has been charged with corruption.
Armed Forces’ Joint Forces Headquarters chief of staff Mejar-Jen Datuk Mohamed Fauzi Kamis pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to a charge of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM5mil.
The 56-year-old said he understood the charge after it was read out before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin here yesterday.
According to the charge sheet, Mohamed Fauzi was allegedly entrusted with RM5mil in a bank account that belonged to the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT).
He had allegedly committed CBT on the property by dishonestly misusing the property by making additional investment at Precious Amber International Bhd without the approval of TKAT’s investment committee.
The offence was said to have occurred at the Defence Ministry in Jalan Padang Tembak, Kementah, on Nov 27, 2023.
The charge was framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment between two and 20 years, with whipping and a fine, if convicted.
“I plead not guilty. I ask for a trial,” Mohamed Fauzi said.
Deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How offered RM300,000 bail in one surety and sought for the court to impound the passport of the accused.
“The accused is still serving in the force. There is a flight risk as he frequently goes abroad,” he said.
Lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar, who represented Mohamed Fauzi, said his client has three school-going children.
“This is an interesting case as the accused is still in service and ‘carrying’ two stars on his shoulder.
“Although he does go abroad, I have no hesitation if the court decides to impound his passport. We will make applications (to retrieve the passport) if he needs to leave the country.
“But a RM300,000 bail is exorbitant. The offence is not swindling the money, rather it is misuse of money,” Ahmad Zaharil said.
The lawyer sought for bail to be set at RM70,000 and said his client would attend every proceeding.
Judge Suzana then fixed RM100,000 in one surety.
She also ordered that the accused surrender his passport to the court pending the disposal of the case.
The case is set for mention on March 16.
