IPOH: A palm oil mill manager based in South Africa claimed trial to cheating a multinational company where he was formerly employed in 2024.
TR Logeswaran, 39, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Norizan Riduan yesterday.
Logeswaran is accused of making a false declaration relating to 741.6 metric tonnes of crude palm oil with the intention to deceive the multinational company here between March 14, 2024 and June 21, 2024.
Deputy public prosecutor Zarris Sofea Zainudin requested bail be set at RM10,000, paid by two sureties who are his family members.
She also requested the accused’s passport to be surrendered to the court and for him to report to the nearest police station every month until the case is completed.
Lawyer Kiranjeet Kaur Sidhu said his client is unable to surrender his passport and report to the police monthly because he works overseas.
Kiranjeet also said the accused, who is married, has two children aged two and five with health issues to care for.
“He needs the job to care for his children’s healthcare, which costs about RM2,500 a month,” she said, adding that Logeswaran also has two ageing parents to look after.
“The eldest child has autism while the younger child, who was born prematurely, has various health issues,” she added.
Kiranjeet said Logeswaran is not a flight risk and has returned to Malaysia willingly to facilitate police investigations.
“He returned on Dec 16, 2024, as well as yesterday after being summoned by the police needing additional information, but only to be charged,” she said, adding that the accused is willing to pay a high bail so that he can keep his passport.
“A bail should not be a punishment, and it is only to ensure his attendance. He will attend the trial.”
Magistrate Norizan set bail at RM10,000 with two sureties who are the accused’s kin.
She rejected the prosecution’s requests for the accused to surrender his passport and to report to the police every month.
She also set Aug 6 for mention and submission of documents.
