Port Klang assemblyperson Zakaria Md Deros, famed for his mansion controversy last year, now finds himself having to face a court battle - at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court tomorrow.

According to The Sun, the Selangor legislator will be appearing in court to face 13 charges under the Companies' Act 1965. He, together with four other directors of Harvest Court Industries Bhd, is charged with not notifying the Companies Commission (CC) of Harvest Court's change of address under the Section 120 of the Act.

Zakaria has also been charged with several offences as a director of Titi Steel Sdn Bhd. Along with another company director, he will be charged with not holding the annual general meeting from 2002 to 2005, failure to submit financial statements during the same period, and failure to submit profit and loss acounts from 2001 to 2004. These are offences under Section 143, 165 and 169 of the Companies' Act, respectively.

Each of the charges holds a punishment up to a RM30,000 fine and five years' imprisonment.

Zakaria and the other directors were served with the summons yesterday. The companies, Harvest Court and Titi Steel, will be charged separately with the same offences.

Zakaria was attacked late last year for constructing a four-storey mansion, subsequently dubbed 'Istana Zakaria', without the Klang Municipal Council's approval. The assemblyman, who is also Klang Umno division chief, quickly became the target of harsh media and public criticism, especially after revelations that his daughter and son-in-law had been appointed Klang municipal councillors.

Wrong to hold director's post

Following the controversy, the Sultan of Selangor advised Zakaria to resign as councillor. Although Zakaria did not resign, he was not reappointed after the expiry of his term.

The CC is also preparing prosecution papers against Zakaria for continuing with his director post at Masmanis Sdn Bhd, despite being declared a bankrupt. His bankruptcy was declared between Sept 10 and Nov 24, 1992.

However, he still continued to hold the Masmanis director post, as well as his Senate seat.

On June 21, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed an application brought by two secretaries of Masmanis to declare null and void Zakaria's director position.

Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) investigations into allegations involving Zakaria were closed in early May due to lack of evidence. However, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has called on the ACA to make public the details of the probe.