KUALA LUMPUR: A witness told the Sessions Court that she had seen the contents of an e-mail including operational and financial performance reports for the first quarter of 2024 sent by former PETRONAS manager Mohd Khairul Akmal Mohd Jasni to two senior officials of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros).
PETRONAS human resources manager Suhaidah Labu, 42, testified Friday (Sept 25) that the confidential information, dated May 10, 2024, was sent by Khairul Akmal to Petros chief executive officer Datuk Janin Girie and Petros chief financial officer Mohd Azha Abdul Jalil.
"The e-mail was brought to my attention by Industrial Relations officers Jumsuri Basri and Zatil ‘Ismah Azmi on Dec 6, 2024.
"They contacted me to verify whether Khairul Akmal had resigned, as the e-mail contained the phrase 'I look forward to joining your team'.
"After checking his records in the system, I found no record of resignation; he remained an active PETRONAS employee," she said while reading her witness statement during the trial of Khairul Akmal, who faces a charge of attempting to disclose official or confidential information regarding a report to Petros in June 2024.
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Regarding a laptop belonging to Khairul Akmal, the sixth prosecution witness confirmed that she had taken possession of the device, but it was not forcibly seized.
Khairul Akmal handed it over voluntarily after a notice of suspension was explained to him, she added.
"The laptop was collected as part of standard human resources procedure when an employee is suspended from duty, enabling the relevant authorities to conduct further investigations," she said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Mohd Redzuan.
Additionally, Suhaidah noted that throughout his tenure, Khairul Akmal demonstrated excellent work performance and was categorised as a top talent within the PETRONAS finance fraternity.
"He also possessed deep knowledge and understanding of the factors influencing oil and gas values, as well as the gas value chain.
"The RM15,000 salary he received was based on PETRONAS' internal equity principles for the position of manager; however, he had verbally expressed a desire to be transferred to Sarawak as his family resides there," the witness said.
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During cross-examination by lawyer Louis Liaw Vern Xien, representing Khairul Akmal, the witness admitted to being unsure exactly who had written the e-mail and pressed Send to transmit the first-quarter 2024 operational and financial performance report to Janin and Azha.
Khairul Akmal, 41, is charged with attempting to disclose information regarding the "Q1 2024 Upstream Business Performance Operational & Financial" document to Petros.
The information was said to have been obtained while performing his duties as a business unit performance manager at PETRONAS at a condominium on Jalan Pinang here, between 3.19pm and 3.21pm on June 8, 2024.
The charge was brought under Section 203A(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 511 of the same Code, which carries a maximum penalty of six months' jail, or a fine of RM1mil, or both, upon conviction.
The trial before judge Mazuliana Abdul Rashid will resume on Nov 18. – Bernama
