NFC boss claims trial to 4 charges: Is this for real?!

National Feedlot Corporation executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail has claimed trial to two counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and two counts of violating the Companies Act 1965.

The 64-year-old was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code for CBT for using RM9,758,140 of NFC funds to purchase two condominium units at the One Menerung complex in Bangsar, for the National Meat and Livestock Corporation on Dec 1 and Dec 4, 2009 and transferring RM40 million of NFC funds to the National Meat and Livestock Corporation between May 6 and Nov 16, 2009.

In both cases, Mohamad Salleh, who appeared calm and was dressed in a dark striped suit, is also charged with using the funds without the approval of the NFC’s annual general meeting, an offence under Section 132 of the Companies Act 1965.

Mohamad Salleh faces no less than two years' and no more than 20 years' imprisonment with whipping and a fine for the offences under the Penal Code as well as a five-year jail term or RM30,000 fine for the offences under the Companies Act.

In mitigation, defence counsel Badrulmunir Bukhari, who was acting on behalf of Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who is currently overseas, asked that bail be set at RM50,000 for each charge.

Badrulmunir argued that there is no flight risk as Mohamad Salleh is here to clear his name of the charges, and given full cooperation to the authorities investigating the matter.