MIRI: An accounts clerk facing 36 charges – 12 each for cheque thefts, signature forgeries, and criminal breach of trust – pleaded not guilty at the magistrates’ court yesterday.Zalifah Latip, 29, from Kampung Lereng Bukit, Jalan Miri-Pujut was charged under Section 381 of the Penal Code which provides for seven years jail and a fine.
The first charge alleged that Zalifah, who worked for Justrite Construction & Services Sdn Bhd, stole her employer’s Malayan Banking Berhad cheque (serial number 232847) for RM14,000 and banked it into a Maybank account belonging to one Sim How Hua for her own personal use.
The offence was committed on Feb 4, 2008 at Justrite Construction & Services Sdn Bhd, Lot 2304, First Floor, Bulatan Commercial Centre, Piasau Jaya.
In the second to seventh charge, the accused repeated the same offence by stealing a Malayan Banking Berhad cheque (serial number 232850) for RM14,000 and banked it into a Maybank account belonging to Danforth Petrolem Industries Sdn Bhd on Feb 6, 2008; Malayan Banking cheque (No. 232851) for RM9,500 and banked it into her Maybank account on Feb 6 2008; Malayan Banking (No. 232875) for RM10,000 and banked it into a Maybank account belonging Siti Faezah Noor Jaafar on Feb 18 2008; Malayan Banking cheque (No. 232880) for RM14,000 and banked it into a Maybank account also belonging to Siti Faezah Noor Jaafar on Feb 20 2008; Malayan Banking cheque (No. 232879) for RM12,000 and banked it into her own Maybank account on March 17 2008, and Malayan Banking cheque (No. 306667) for RM28,000 and banked it into a Maybank account belonging to Nazari Morsidi on May 9, 2008.
The eight to twelve charge accused her of stealing a Malayan Banking cheque (No. 306706) for RM14,500 and banked it into her own Maybank account on May 9, 2008; Malayan Banking cheque (No. 306605) for RM9,500 and banked it into her own account on Sept 3, 2008; Malayan Banking cheque (No. 232873) for RM9,000 and banked it into her own account on Sept 22 2008; Malayan Banking cheque (No. 449022) for RM8,400 and banked it into a Maybank account belonging to Siti Faezah Noor Jaafar, and Malayan Banking cheque (No. 443874) for RM9,500 and banked it into her own account on Oct 24 2008.
All the offences were said to have been committed at the same office.
She also faced 12 charges of criminal breach of trust under Section 408 of the Penal Code for stealing the 12 cheques totalling RM152,400 for her own personal use.
If found guilty she could be jailed not less that one year and not more than 14 years, and she faces the possibility of being caned and fined.
She also faces 12 other charges under Section 465 of the Penal Code for forging her employer’s signature with the intention to cashing the stolen cheques.
After she pleaded not guilty, magistrate Nasrul Hadi Abdul Ghani set Feb 18 for further mention of the 36 charges. She was released on RM2,000 bail and one local surety pending hearing of the case.