Businessman Shamsubahrin Ismail, who was previously charged with cheating former National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) director Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, today pleaded not guilty to four amended charges involving RM1.755 million.   

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission prosecution unit chief Abdul Razak Musa informed the court that the earlier second count against the accused had been amended and split into four separate charges.    

Shamsubahrin, Resources Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, who initially faced two counts of cheating is now up against five counts, after the amendment.    

Abdul Razak however stated that the prosecution had maintained the first count.  

On the first count, Shamsubahrin, 46, allegedly cheated Mohamad Salleh by promising an advisory and consulting service with the intention of deceiving him (Mohamad Salleh) into agreeing to pay a fee to (Shamsubahrin) at a restaurant in Bukit Tunku in Kuala Lumpur at 6pm on Nov 20 last year.     

Under the second amended charge, the accused allegedly deceived Mohamad Salleh, who is now NPC chairperson, into giving him a cheque for RM255,000 on Nov 25, 2011, purportedly to be paid in part to officers of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department, Bukit Perdana to close a police investigation against NFC.     

The third, fourth and fifth charges involved the accused cheating Mohamad Salleh by deceiving him into handing over three cheques amounting to RM500,000, RM300,000 and RM700,000 for the same purpose on Dec 1 and 5, 2011.  

Shamsubahrin faces up to a maximum of 10 years jail, fine and caning upon conviction under the Penal Code for the offences.  

Judge Rozilah Salleh set June 29 for case management and maintained the July 16 to 27 trial dates which were fixed previously. Zarina Ismail appeared for the accused.   

- Bernama