Fadley Faisal
The case involving three Malaysians facing 45 charges of conspiring to cheat Hyatt Borneo Management Services (HBMS), a service provider based at Istana Nurul Iman, came up in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
No plea were recorded and Senior Magistrate Hajah Ervy Sufitriana binti Haji Abdul Rahman adjourned the case to May 18 after defence counsels seek time to go through case documents.
Defence counsel Ang Swee Kiang of Messrs Yu and Chiew is still representing Sam Ying Kok but has discharged himself from representing Iskak bin Rahmat.
Meanwhile, Abdul Sani bin Abdul Mutalib appointed Sharah Abdul Hamid of Messrs ZS Legal as defence counsel.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Dayangku Didi-Nuraza binti Pengiran Abdul Latiff’s charges arise from investigations conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
In their findings, Perusahaan Ala Haji Bolhassan, a long-time flour supplier to HBMS supplied expired ‘Dawn’ brand baking flour to HBMS.
The ‘Dawn’ flour is allegedly surplus from orders made by Perusahaan Ala Haji Bolhassan during the COVID-19 pandemic and was unsold until expiry date.
After COVID-19 restrictions lifted, the company sold the expired flour to HBMS.
The ACB launched an investigation in June 2022 where they arrested Perusahaan Ala Haji Bolhassan General Manager Sam, 51; HBMS Pastry Chef Iskak, 56; and HBMS Materials Manager Abdul Sani, 56.
The allegations stated that Sam conspired with Iskak and Abdul Sani to cheat HBMS into believing that the ‘Dawn’ baking flour supplied and delivered by Perusahaan Ala Haji Bolhassan between February 1, 2021 and March 1, 2022 is still usable when it has expired. With the deception, HBMS ordered and subsequently made payment totalling BND25,780.
