SHAH ALAM (Aug 28): National Council of Professors (MPN) president Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Raduan Che Rose claimed trial to seven criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges amounting to RM271,000, at the Shah Alam High Court here on Wednesday.

Raduan, 64, was charged together with MPN Global Reach Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Professor Datuk Dr Kefli Mahbol, who was accused of conspiring to commit the CBT.

Both of them pleaded not guilty to their respective charges before Sessions Court Judge Datuk Anita Harun.

Raduan was charged with misusing his capacity as MPN president to approve MPN funds of RM33,000 and RM38,000 that were deposited into Kefli's account via cheques.

The two charges stated that this is an act of CBT. The offences were allegedly committed on March 14 and April 3 last year.

For the third to seventh charges, Raduan was accused of committing CBT as the director of MPN Global Reach on the deposited funds for the UKMShape-MPN Global Reach programme. He was alleged to have withdrawn a total of RM200,000 via cheques for Kefli.

These offences were allegedly committed on April 5, 8 and 15 this year. Framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, they provide for a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and fine upon conviction.

Meanwhile, Kefli, 65, was slapped with seven charges of conspiring to commit CBT with Raduan which are linked to the deposited monies of the UKMShape-MPH Global Reach programme.

Raduan expressed shock in the courtroom after his charges were read to him.

“Yang Arif, I have been in service for 40 years. I am still in shock over the charges against me. I cannot accept this as I had given the approval according to the rules and agreements in place,” he told the judge.

He further added that his reputation has taken a hit as he leads the MPN which has over 200,000 students and 20,000 staff: “This is an injustice to me,”.

“I plead not guilty. The money [to Kefli] are his, it is halal pay,” he said, visibly shaken.

During mitigation for bail, Raduan's lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said the professor is scheduled to deliver a speech in his capacity as the chairman of the UiTM Council at UiTM's 25th anniversary as a university, before the Sultan of Selangor, the prime minister and senior ministers.

Anita then set bail at RM40,000 with one surety for all charges and ordered Raduan to report to the Putrajaya Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in the first week of the month, and to not harass prosecution witnesses.

A similar bail was set for Kefli.

The court then set Oct 23 for case mention for both men.
 

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/724625