The application filed by former president of Sime Darby Group Bhd Ahmad Zubair @ Ahmad Zubir Murshid to strike out the RM100 million criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges against him will be heard at the High Court on Feb 26.

High Court Deputy Registrar Zuraini Abdul Razak set the date in the presence of lawyers S Devanandan and Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, who represented Ahmad Zubair, and deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Zarifah Zulghaffar.

Devanandan told reporters that the application was filed on grounds that the charges were baseless and defective.

In July 2012, Ahmad Zubair, 56, who is also former Sime Darby Bhd chief executive officer, pleaded not guilty to two counts of CBT in a Native Customary Rights land development project in Sarawak, causing the company to incur losses of more than RM100 million.

The offence under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, whipping and fine upon conviction.

Ahmad Zubair also claimed trial to two alternative charges of deceiving the company’s board of directors pertaining to the project.

For that, he faces up to seven years in prison or fine or both upon conviction under Section 418 of the Penal Code.

All the offences were allegedly committed at the Sime Darby Bhd office in Wisma Sime Darby, Jalan Raja Laut in Kuala Lumpur between Nov 17, 2008 and Dec 4, 2009.

- Bernama