A volunteer from DAP was charged in the Magistrate's Court in Petaling Jaya today with stealing donation money totalling RM35,019.45, which was collected at one of the party’s talks last week.

Chung Siew Kim, 41, an online trader, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Magistrate Nurshahirah Abdul Salim.

The woman was charged with stealing cash amounting to RM34,428.45, two cheques totalling RM575, 100 Thai Baht (RM12) and US$1 (RM4) from DAP Damansara Service Centre at 55M, Jalan SS21/1A, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya at 4 pm, May 9.

She was charged with committing the offence under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine upon conviction.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Abu Arsalnaa Zainal Abidin suggested a bail of RM8,000 in one surety, but Chung’s counsel Mohd Syazwan Mohd Hassan sought a lower amount for the accused on the grounds she was self-employed.

The court allowed the accused bail at RM4,000 in one surety, and fixed July 9 for mention of the case.

- Bernama