KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): A former company director of a property development company has been charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) for transferring RM100,000 of company funds to himself for a non-existent "director fee".

Lee Lun Teong, the former director of Menarez Development Sdn Bhd, was charged with one count of CBT for transferring RM 101,679.98 of company funds to his private account at Alliance Bank. He is accused of transferring the sum as a director fee when no such payment was to be carried out.

Lee, 44, was accused of committing the offence from November 2024 until December 2024, while he was still at the helm of the company.

He pleaded not guilty and claimed trial on Friday before Sessions Court judge Azrul Darus.

The charge framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a punishment of imprisonment of between two to 20 years, whipping, and fine.

The judge set bail at RM20,000 with one surety and for Lee to report to the police once a month.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Muhammad Zul Hilmi Latif said that this was a non-bailable offence, but left it to the court's discretion. He also suggested a bail of RM30,000 with one surety and for the accused’s passport to be impounded by the court.

Lee's counsel Wan Shahrizal Wan Ladin asked for bail of RM20,000, but asked for the court to not take possession of his client's passport, as he was a businessman who had to travel. The lawyer added that his client had not displayed any behaviour which constituted as a flight risk.

The case comes up for mention again on Dec 9.