Kuala lumpur: A chief commercial officer of an e-wallet company pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of unauthorized access to a Merchantrade Asia e-wallet account on another individual's mobile phone last year. Sarveswaran Raja Gopal, 48, was accused of causing a computer to perform a function with the intent of accessing the Merchantrade application account on another person's mobile phone without authority, knowing that such access was unauthorized.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the alleged offence took place at Jalan Changkat Hartamas, Sentul, on January 11, 2025. Sarveswaran was charged under Section 3(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997, which is punishable under Section 3(3) of the same Act. This section provides for a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Anis Hakimah Ibrahim proposed bail at RM10,000 with one surety. Additional conditions included prohibiting the accused from interfering with prosecution witnesses and requiring monthly reporting to a police station pending the disposal of the case.

Defence counsel Muniandy sought a lower bail, arguing that his client is the family's sole breadwinner and not a flight risk. The judge, Izralizam Sanusi, allowed bail at RM8,000 with one surety, maintaining the condition that the accused must not interfere with prosecution witnesses. The court fixed May 11 for mention.