A DIRECTOR of a rubber manufacturing company pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today to four counts of submitting false documents to Grant Thornton Malaysia over the non-existent sale of RM3 million in used machines, two years ago.

Wong Ping Kiong, 60, the director for Goodway Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which were read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.

According to the first charge, Wong was accused of deliberately submitting a GIIB Rubber debit note for RM2.95 million dated December 30, 2019, to Grant Thornton Malaysia’s audit manager Tam Siew Ping.

The note included the sale of six used machines that did not actually take place, according to the prosecution.

For the second to fourth charges, Wong is accused of the same offence involving another document containing the permission granted to Goodway Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd for the disposal of the same used machines that did not take place.

She is accused of committing the offence at Grant Thornton Malaysia’s office at Sheraton Imperial Court, Jalan Sultan Ismail, between January and February 2021, under section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable by up to 20 years and a fine of at least five times the sum in question or RM10,000 whichever is higher, upon conviction.

At the same court, another director of the company, Tai Boon Wee, 63, pleaded not guilty to three charges of colluding with Wong to commit the offence at the same location and date.

The charges were framed under section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009, read together with section 8 of the same act, and carries the same penalty upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How asked for bail to be set at RM100,000 for each charges, and for each of the accused.

In mitigation, lawyer Amer Hamzah said both clients cooperated fully with MACC throughout the investigation, adding that they were not a flight risk.

“They are directors of the company and have an interest in clearing their names from these charges. I will also submit a representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers soon,” he said.

Wong and Tai were allowed bail of RM60,000 and RM50,000 with one surety each and ordered to surrender their passports as well as report to the MACC office once a month.

The court also fixed February 28 for next mention of the case. – Bernama, January 13, 2023.