2010/03/10
KUALA LUMPUR: A former lawyer was jailed two years and ordered to be given four strokes of the rotan after the Sessions Court here found him guilty of committing criminal breach of trust involving about RM97,000 six years ago.
Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff meted out the sentence after Noor Hadi Sallehon, 47, pleaded guilty yesterday.
In her judgment, Rozana said that the offence was a very serious one, more so as Noor Hadi was formerly a lawyer himself. “I hope this will be a lesson learnt and that you will turn over a new leaf after this,” she said, ordering the sentence to be carried out immediately.
Noor Hadi was charged with committing breach of trust involving RM97,350.18 in his course of duty as a lawyer at his firm, Messrs Hadi & Co, at Pusat Bandar Wangsa Maju here on Oct 29, 2004.
According to the statement of facts, Noor Hadi had received three cheques written for RM55,079, RM54,802 and RM60,078 respectively from the firm of Messrs Kumar Jaspal Quah and Aishah to be held in trust.
The beneficiary of these cheques was Romli Hussin, the complainant in the case.
According to investigations, the balance of the monies in the firm’s client’s account was only RM72,608.82, and the accused was found to have misappropriated the remaining RM97,350.18.
Prosecuting was deputy public prosecutor Hamidi Mohd Noh, while lawyer Shamsul Sulaiman represented the accused.