Kota Kinabalu: A 46-year-old businessman was freed from a charge of misappropriation of property worth RM41,515, without his defence being called.
Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie discharged and acquitted Voo Li Kiam from the charge, after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Voo.
Voo was accused of misappropriating the collection money belonging to KS Filter Sdn Bhd, for his own use between Dec 8, 2018 and Jan 26, 2019 at the company premises in Inanam.
The charge under Section 403 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between six months and five years and whipping and liability of a fine, on conviction.
Six witnesses had been called by the prosecution during the hearing.
The court ordered for the bail sum paid by Voo to be refunded.
Inspector Suzie Kupit conducted the prosecution while Voo was represented by counsel Ram Singh and Chen Wen Jye.
In another case, a 29-year-old man was jailed 12 months for keeping a stolen motorcycle.
Shahdan Muslim admitted before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles, to the charge against him. He was found keeping the stolen motorcycle at 7.30pm on July 20 this year behind a restaurant in Inanam.
The court ordered Shahdan to serve the jail sentence from the date of his arrest.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted.
