The High Court in Shah Alam today acquitted and discharged a former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer whom a lower court had sentenced to six years jail in 2009 for cheating.   

Judge Siti Mariah Ahmad, in delivering the judgement on the appeal, said the Ampang Sessions Court had erred in terms of law and facts when convicting Dr Shaharuddin Aziz, 62.

The Sessions Court had sentenced Shaharuddin to six years jail on Dec 3, 2009, after finding him guilty of having cheated businessman Cheah So On of US$300,000 (about RM1.14 million then) at the office of Sedaran Timor Sdn Bhd in Taman Melawati in February 1996.

Shaharuddin was charged with having deceived Cheah into believing that he was the holder of the power of attorney with regard to 27 hectares of land belonging to Peramah Setia (M) Sdn Bhd in Sungai Buloh, Perlis, which, it was said, could be developed for housing after getting a bank guarantee of RM6 million from the Kangar (Perlis) branch of Public Bank.

Shaharuddin was alleged to have induced Cheah into handing over the US$300,000 by way of a bank draft issued by the Leboh Pantai (Penang) branch of then Bumiputra Commerce Bank Bhd to obtain approval of the RM6 million bank guarantee.

Siti Mariah said she gleaned from the oral and written arguments of appeal that all payments between Shaharuddin and Cheah had been made based on a memorandum of understanding between them.

Shaharuddin, when met outside the court later, said he was grateful for the court’s decision and expressed his intention to pursue his career in genetics in which he had the expertise.

Shaharuddin was represented by lawyer Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman while Deputy Public Prosecutor Norshuhaida Zainal Azahar appeared for the prosecution.

- Bernama