KUALA LUMPUR: Alam Maritim Resources Bhd managing director and CEO Datuk Azmi Ahmad has been charged in the Sessions Court here with two counts of cheating an individual over the daily charter rates of a vessel.
Azmi, 67, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin here yesterday.
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 allegedly led Iskandar to agree to sign a BIMCO Supplytime 2017 agreement between Alam-JV DP2 (L) Inc. and Alam Maritim (M) Sdn Bhd at a daily charter rate of RM70,000.
On 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.
This allegedly prompted Iskandar to sign a BIMCO Supplytime 2017 agreement between TH-Alam Management and Alam Maritim at a daily charter rate of RM78,000.
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 prison sentence of five years, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Noor Syazwani Mohammad Sobry offered bail at RM500,000 with one surety and sought additional conditions requiring Azmi to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Putrajaya once every three months and refrain from harassing witnesses in the case.
Lawyer Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer Wan Normazlan, representing Azmi, sought a lower bail of RM100,000, saying the amount proposed by the prosecution was excessive and that his client had fully cooperated with the investigation.
“Bail is meant to ensure the attendance of the accused in 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 require attention,” Wan Muhd Ariff said.
Judge Suzana set bail at RM300,000 with one surety and allowed the additional conditions.
The case is fixed for mention on Nov 18.
