AN accountant appointed by a government-linked company has been charged in the Petaling Jaya magistrate’s court with criminal breach of trust involving more than RM10,000.

Wan Mohamad Shukri Wan Kadir, 47, appointed by Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd, pleaded not guilty.

He was accused of committing the offence between October 24 and 29, 2014, by cashing two cheques issued by Simfoni Maya Sdn Bhd, amounting to RM10,600, at Bank Islam’s Taman Tun Dr Ismail branch.

He was charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for dishonest misappropriation of property.

It carries a jail term of not less than six months and not more than five years, with whipping or a fine, upon conviction.

Wan Shukri, who worked as a manager and receiver at Simfoni Maya between March 2013 and 2014, was responsible for managing the company’s liquidation process.

This is the first time a receiver of a company is hauled to court for a criminal breach of trust offence.

Magistrate Mohd Azali Ibrahim set bail at RM10,000 with one surety, and ordered that Wan Shukri surrender his passport.

The bail, however, was reduced to RM3,500 following a request by Wan Shukri’s lawyer, Afifuddin Mohd Hafifi, who said his client had a wife and four children to support.

The court fixed January 25 next year for next mention. – December 26, 2017.