KUANTAN: Gerakan vice-president Datuk Yap Kim Heng was today slapped with six counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) at the Sessions Court here for misappropriating Kuantan Amateur Basketball Association (Kaba) stall rental payments amounting RM15,950.

The 62-year-old, who is also the Pahang Gerakan chairman, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him by the court interpreter before judge Maimoonah Aid.

Yap is alleged to have committed these offences by failing to deposit the rental payment cheques - ranging between RM1,350 and RM2,600 - into Kaba's bank account.

Instead, he handed over five cheques to his wife and child for deposit into their personal bank accounts.

In a sixth charge, Yap is accused of depositing a cheque for RM4,200 into his own account.

All six cheques, totaling RM15,950 from Dai Sou Nasi Lemak, were supposed to be deposited into Kaba's account.

The alleged misappropriations took place at a financial institution on Jalan Air Putih between May 2018 and June 2021.

Yap was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years with whipping and fine, if convicted.

During the court proceedings, MACC deputy public prosecutor Rifah Izzati Abdul Mutalif proposed a bail amount of RM30,000 with additional conditions, including surrendering Yap's passport and reporting to the MACC office monthly.

Yap's lawyer, R. Balabedha, requested a reduced bail amount, citing Yap's status as a retiree who supports his family, including a sick wife, with his previous job's commission and allowance.

He also highlighted Yap's heart condition and need for ongoing medical treatment.

Maimoonah set bail at RM18,000 with one surety and scheduled the next court mention for Sept 20.

Yap was ordered to surrender his passport and report to the nearest MACC office.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/08/1089126/gerakan-vp-pleads-not-guilty-6-cbt-charges-over-misappropriating