KUALA LUMPUR: Alam Maritim Resources Bhd managing director and CEO Datuk Azmi Ahmad has been charged at the Sessions Court here with two charges of cheating an individual linked to the daily rates of a charter ship.
Azmi, 67, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin here on Thursday (Sept 9).
"Understood. I plead not guilty and claim trial," he said.
According to the first charge, Azmi allegedly cheated TH Alam Management Sdn Bhd principal officer Iskandar Mohd Zaffa, 48, by concealing the actual Daily Charter Rate of RM80,500 in a work order dated Aug 24, 2023.
This prompted Iskandar to agree to sign a BIMCO Supplytime 2017 with the Daily Charter Rate of RM70,000 between Alam-JV DP2 (L) Inc. and Alam Maritim (M) Sdn Bhd.
For the second charge, Azmi allegedly cheated the same individual by concealing the actual Daily Charter Rate of RM110,000 in a work order dated Jan 15, 2024, which prompted Iskandar to sign BIMCO Supplytime 2017 with the Daily Charter Rate of RM78,000 a day between TH-Alam Management and Alam Maritim.
The offences were allegedly committed at a premises in Jalan Radin Anum, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling on Sept 6, 2023 and Jan 16, 2024.
The charges under Section 417 of the Penal Code carry a maximum imprisonment of five years or a fine or both, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Syazwani Mohammad Sobry offered bail at RM500,000 in one surety.
She also sought additional bail conditions to be imposed on the accused whereby the accused must report his attendance once every three months at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya and that the accused must refrain from harassing the witnesses in the case.
Lawyer Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer Wan Normazlan, who represented Azmi, however, asked for a lower bail amount of RM100,000.
He said the half a million offered by the prosecution was excessive and his client had given full cooperation throughout the investigation.
"Bail is meant to ensure the attendance of the accused at the court. My client has to support his wife and six children, with the youngest being only six years old.
"He also has health issues that need attention," Wan Muhd Ariff said.
Judge Suzana fixed bail at RM300,000 in one surety and allowed the additional bail conditions.
The case is fixed for mention on Nov 18.
