Dato’ Geethan Ram Vincent (Left), Faridah Binti Ja’afar (Middle), Lavanyia Raja (Right)
Clerk Wins Final Appeal, Found Not Guilty of Criminal Breach Of Trust
Cheang Sue Lyn
PUTRAJAYA
Faridah Binti Ja’afar was all smiles as she walked out of the Court of Appeal here today having been acquitted and discharged by the 3-member bench.
The alleged offence took place over the course of4 months in the beginning of 2011.
Faridah, would often be left with pre-signed blank cheques, for urgent payments when her boss was overseas for work. She would allegedly,cash in these cheques for her personal benefit. In total, she was said to hadstole RM31,659.45.
She was charged under Section 408 of the Penal Code which carries a prison term of one to 14 years, whipping and a fine. However, under Malaysian law, women are not subject to whipping.
The trial was first underway at the Sessions Court where the Learned Judge convicted her and sentenced her to 6 years imprisonment.
Faridah appealed the decision which was subsequently affirmed by the High Court.
In the Court of Appeal today, Dato’ Geethan Ram canvassed 2 main arguments, that the Prosecution had failed to prove all elements of
the charge and that the Learned Trial Judge had failed to consider the whole of Faridah’s defense.
Suspenseful silence filed the room as the decision was announced.
Faridah, who had been sitting uncomfortably since 8:45am, was visibly relieved at her acquittal.