KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — An accountant was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court today on charges of illegal deposit-taking involving RM25,000 three years ago.
Judge Mohd Kafli Che Ali ordered Muhamad Zulkarnain Zulkifle, 36, to be freed after finding that the defence had succeeded in raising reasonable doubts against the prosecution’s case.
"Therefore, the court ordered the accused to be acquitted and discharged of the charge and the RM8,000 bail is returned," he said.
Six prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses including the accused testified at the trial of the case, which began on September 4 last year.
Zulkarnain was charged with receiving the money as a deposit without a valid licence from R. Ganisan, 37, at an apartment in Sentul between 8am and 5pm on July 9 and October 10, 2021.
The charge, under Section 137(1) of the Financial Services Act 2013, provides imprisonment for up to 10 years or a maximum fine of RM50 million or both, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Akmalzatul Mohamed Nawi appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Nur Jehan Abu Bakar represented Zulkarnain.
— Bernama
