Mohamed Zaini Amran, 64, a former director of Infra Desa Johor (IDJ) Sdn Bhd, a company responsible for road improvement works in rural areas, and executive director Jamilullail Md Sapie, 47, made the plea after the charges were read before judge Faiz Dziyauddin.

They were jointly accused of fraudulently misusing the sum by transferring it from the IDJ bank account to the bank accounts of five other companies.

All the offences were allegedly committed at a bank in Taman Perling here on April 11 and 13, 2018.

The duo were charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code (Act 574) read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping and fine upon conviction.

Zaini faces nine other charges of using company-owned property, namely IDJ’s cheques, for transferring RM2.82 million from IDJ’s bank account to the bank accounts of five other companies, without the consent or ratification of a general meeting for his own benefit and that of any other person.

The offence was allegedly committed at the same bank and on the same date.

Zaini was charged under Section 218 (1) (a) of the Companies Act 2016 (Act 777) and punishable under Section 218 (2) of the same Act, which carries a maximum jail term of five years or a maximum fine of RM3 million or both, upon conviction.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mokhtar prosecuted. Zaini was represented by lawyer Iskandar Shah Ibrahim and Jamilullail by lawyer Sukhaimi Mashud.

Faiz set bail of RM250,000 for Zaini for his 18 charges, and RM200,000 for Jamilullail for the nine charges in one surety each and ordered both men to surrender their passports to the court.

The judge set March 1 for mention of both cases.