KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent Islamic finance figure Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar has been charged at the Sessions Court here with abetment over alleged unlicensed securities activities.
Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar, 62, who previously sat on the Syariah Advisory Board at Bank Negara, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before Sessions Court judge Norma Ismail here on Monday (Feb 23).
According to the charge sheet, Mohd Daud, as a representative of Energy Eco Bhd, allegedly abetted AUF MBZ Consortium PLT in securities activities despite AUF MBZ not having a licence or registration under the Capital Markets Services Licence.
He allegedly committed the offence at a premises in Pusat Perniagaan Reef in Rawang between June 14, 2021 and Aug 9, 2023.
The charge under Section 58(1) of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 carries a maximum fine of up to RM10mil or imprisonment up to 10 years, or both, if convicted.
Securities Commission's Deputy Public Prosecutor Shoba Venu Gobal said Mohd Daud was charged with a non-bailable offence but told the court it has discretion to impose bail.
Mohd Daud's lawyer Mohd Haziq Razali said his client only faces one charge and bail should not be made excessive or punitive as it was only to secure attendance.
"I propose a RM50,000 bail in one surety," he said.
Judge Norma allowed bail at RM50,000 in one surety.
Meanwhile, AUF MBZ's founder Datuk Seri Mahadi Badrul Zaman, 43, was slapped with two counts of illegal securities trading without licence under Section 58(1) of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007.
He pleaded not guilty before Judge Norma and Sessions Court judge Azrul Darus in two separate proceedings.
Mahadi allegedly committed the offences at a house in Bayrocks Garden Waterfront Villa, Sunway South Quay in Subang Jaya between June 14, 2021 and Feb 15, 2024.
Securities Commission prosecuting officer Danial Imran Nasaruddin asked the court to consider public interest and the confidence of investors in securities markets before allowing bail.
Mahadi's lawyer Datuk Mohd Zamri Mohd Idrus told the court that his client had cooperated during investigation and was not a flight risk.
He said Mahadi was supporting his cancer-stricken mother as well as his in-laws.
The lawyer also said that if bail was not allowed and Mahadi has to go in prison, his long beard would likely be chopped off.
"This would impact him," Mohd Zamri said.
Mahadi was allowed a RM50,000 bail from each court.
A third figure in the case, businessman Muhamad Iqbal Mohamad, was also charged in the same court for abetting AUF MBZ.
Muhamad Iqbal, 47, was charged in his capacity as a director of QEW Group Bhd, and had allegedly abetted AUF MBZ in illegal securities trading.
He was accused of committing the offence at a premises in Putra Walk, Taman Pinggiran Putra, Seri Kembangan between Sept 3, 2021, and Feb 15, 2024.
Securities Commission prosecuting officer Quek Yiing Huey proposed a RM200,000 bail against the accused.
Muhamad Iqbal's lawyer Nik Mohamed Ikhwan Nik Mahamud however sought a lower amount, saying that his client needed to support 30 staff and that he was not the principal offender.
Judge Norma fixed bail at RM50,000 in one surety.
All of the cases were fixed for mention on April 10.
