Kuala lumpur: Alam Maritim Resources Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Azmi Ahmad faced the Sessions Court today on two charges of fraud related to the daily charter rate of a vessel. Azmi, 67, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read out before Judge Suzana Hussin. "Understand (the charges), I plead not guilty and request to be tried," he stated.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the first charge accuses Azmi of defrauding TH Alam Management Sdn Bhd principal officer Iskandar Mohd Zaffa by concealing the actual offer of Daily Charter Rate dated August 24, 2023, which allocated RM80,500 per day in the Work Order. This act allegedly led Iskandar to agree to sign the BIMCO Supplytime 2017 with a Daily Charter Rate of RM70,000 per day between Alam-JV DP2 (L) Inc. and Alam Maritim (M) Sdn Bhd.
The second charge alleges Azmi defrauded the same individual by hiding the actual Daily Charter Rate offer dated January 15, 2024, which allocated RM110,000 per day in the Work Order. This concealment allegedly resulted in the signing of BIMCO Supplytime 2017 with a Daily Charter Rate of RM78,000 per day between TH-Alam Management and Alam Maritim. The offences allegedly occurred at a building in Jalan Radin Anum, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling on September 6, 2023, and January 16, 2024. They fall under Section 417 of the Penal Code (Act 574), which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, a fine, or both if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Syazwani Mohammad Sobry proposed a bail of RM500,000 with one surety, including conditions that Azmi report to the Putrajaya MACC office every three months and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses until the case concludes.
However, Azmi's lawyer, Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer Wan Normazlan, requested a reduction in bail to RM100,000, arguing that the proposed amount was excessive. He emphasized Azmi's cooperation throughout the investigation and highlighted his family responsibilities and health issues. Wan Muhd Ariff Ameer also requested the return of Azmi's passport, asserting that his client was not a flight risk.
Judge Suzana granted bail at RM300,000 with one surety, maintaining the additional conditions requested by the prosecution. The court scheduled the next mention of the case for November 18 for the submission of documents.