Businessman jailed a total of 31 years for using forged documents as genuine

A businessman was sentenced to a total of 31 years' jail by the Sessions Court Thursday after he was found guilty on 10 counts of using as genuine forged documents pertaining to his second wife's resignation and transfer of shares in a company nine years ago.

Judge Norsharidah Awang handed down the sentence on Datuk Zainulabadin Mat Akhir, 64, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubts against the charges at the end of the defence case.

In the judgment, Norsharidah said the testimony by a chemist called by the defence was not conclusive and non-committal and therefore, was not of help to the court.

"The court accepts the testimony of the government's chemist which is stronger and more conclusive on the difference in characters which is clear between the writing and specimen of the complainant's signature with all the documents in question.

"The findings on the differences in characters enabled the government chemist to confirm that the documents have been forged," she said, adding that the case happened because of family greed and vengeance.

She sentenced Zainulabidin between one and 10 years on each count, totalling 31 years, but ordered him to serve the jail sentences concurrently, from Thursday.

This means Zainulabidin, who is actress Ummi Nazeera's father, will only serve 10 years in jail.

However, the court allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal to the High Court and increased Zainulabadin's bail from RM200,000 to RM250,000 with one surety.

Zainulabadin was charged with 10 counts of using forged documents as genuine, including 'Security Transfer' dated Dec 26, 2006, for the transfer of 1,680,000 unit shares of Mutiara Efektif (M) Sdn Bhd from Datuk Maziah Musa, 51, to Ahmad Fikhri, who is Zainulabadin's son, and a resolution by B.TIS Manufacturer Sdn Bhd Board of Directors, dated Dec 22, 2008 on the appointment of Ahmad Fikhri Zainulabadin and Nor A'khilah Zainulabadin as directors.

The offences were committed at the office of Indah Secretarial Management, 18-1, Jalan 15/48A, Sentul Raya Boulevard, Sentul near here, between Dec 2006 and May 2009.

The charges were made under Section 471 of the Penal Code, which provides a maximum 20 years' jail and fine, if found guilty.

Earlier, Maziah told the court that the following the action by the accused, she was deprived of her right as a director and shareholder in the company.

She said it also affected her health and as a result, had to spend a lot for her medical treatment.

Deputy public prosecutor Rozaliana Zakaria prosecuted, while Zainulabidin was represented by lawyer Datuk Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos.