Court amends charges to include Tun M in NFCorp case

The Sessions Court here Tuesday amended five of the cheating charges in the National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp) case in which Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail is charged with cheating the NFCorp chairman, to insert the name of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Judge Rozilah Salleh made the amendment under Section 158 of the Criminal Procedure Code while ordering Shamsubahrin to enter his defence on five charges of cheating Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail involving RM1.755 million two years ago.

She further ordered Shamsubahrin, 47, a businessman to enter his defence on 17 other charges of money laundering involving RM1.755 million.

In her ruling, Rozilah said the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against the accused.

Shamsubahrin claimed trial to all five amended charges.

On the first amended charge, Shamsubahrin allegedly induced Mohamad Salleh to pay him RM2.75 million for consultancy services after misleading the victim to believe that he was acting on the request of Dr Mahathir.

He is accused of committing the offence at Restoran Sid's Pub at H2, Taman Tunku, Off Langkat Tunku here at 6pm on Nov 20, 2011.

On the second to fifth charges, Shamsubahrin is accused of dishonestly telling Mohamad Salleh that he was asked by Dr Mahathir to assist and provide consultancy services to him.

He allegedly committed the offences at some banks in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Petaling Jaya between Nov 25, 2011 and Dec 5, 2011.

The court set Dec 10 for mention and three days for trial commencing on Feb 20 next year.

Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission enforcement unit head Datuk Abdul Razak Musa prosecuted while counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin represented the accused.