A former director of a construction company pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court today to 17 charges of using forged documents to make progress payment claims worth more than RM300 million for a highway project eight years ago.
Yap Wee Leong, 68, the former director of Mex II Sdn Bhd and concessionaire of the Mex II Highway, entered his plea after the charges were read to him before judge Rosli Ahmad, Utusan Malaysia reported.
Yap was accused of using 17 falsified documents to make claims totalling RM314.48 million.
The documents allegedly involved claims for site clearance, temporary works, earthworks, geotechnical works, drainage works and subgrade pavement works.
The documents pertained to the proposed MEX II Highway, a link from Putrajaya to KLIA undertaken by Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The offences were allegedly committed between June 2017 and April 2018 at Maju Holdings’ office in Maju Tower on Jalan Sultan Ismail.
All 17 charges were brought under Section 471 of the Penal Code for using forged documents.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib proposed bail of RM1 million for the charges with one surety and for Yap to surrender his passport pending conclusion of the case.
Defence counsel Abdul Hakeem Aiman agreed to the suggested bail amount, describing it as fair.
“Usually, I would object or request a reduction. However, in this case, the defence accepts the amount as it is reasonable and sufficient to ensure my client’s attendance in court,” he said.
The court then fixed bail at RM1 million with one surety, ordered Yap to surrender his passport to the court, and set Nov 3 for mention of the case.
Earlier today, Maju Holdings executive chairman Abu Sahid Mohamed claimed trial to four counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM313 million, and 13 counts of money laundering amounting to RM139 million. All 17 charges were linked to the Maju Expressway Extension project.
Abu Sahid’s wife, Noor Azrina Azmi, pleaded not guilty to receiving proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM67,136,588.43 in her bank account from an account belonging to her husband.
