A manager of Norway's largest oil services firm claimed trial for providing false information regarding its Malaysian unit's share capital.
Ahmad Hatta Kamaruzzaman, who is from Aker Solutions, made the not-guilty plea before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning.
On Nov 25 last year, the 50-year-old was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in a cheating case linked to the bumiputera status of Aker Engineering Malaysia, the Malaysian unit of Oslo-based Aker Solutions.
Under the law, a DNAA ruling means that even though a criminal charge has been dropped, the prosecution could still choose in future to recharge the accused for the same offence.
During this morning's open-court proceedings before judge Suzana Hussin, Hatta was charged with providing a false statement to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM).
He had allegedly misrepresented material details in Aker Engineering Malaysia's submission of its "Annual Return of Company Having Share Capital" form to the CMM in June 2017.
The charge is framed under Section 591(2)(a) of the Companies Act 2016, and the accused faces a maximum 10 years imprisonment, fine of not more than RM3 million fine, or both if convicted.
The judge granted RM10,000 bail with one surety and fixed March 21 for mention of the case.
Hatta was represented by counsel S Devanandan, while deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How conducted the prosecution.
In a media statement today, Aker Solutions voiced its support for Hatta, labelling the new charge as groundless.
The Oslo-based company contended that the lower court had granted DNAA to Hatta in the earlier case due to the charge there being allegedly groundless and fundamentally defective.
Aker Solutions also reiterated that it remains committed to cooperating with local authorities in the countries where it operates.
Last year, Reuters reported that MACC was investigating allegations that false representations were made to win licences from Petronas, usually reserved for companies that abide by bumiputera quota requirements.
Aker Solutions also came into the public spotlight over allegations of judicial fixing that rocked Malaysia's legal fraternity. - Mkini
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