Tai Boon Wee, 64, a former GIIB Holdings Bhd chairman, was charged with dishonestly instructing Mak Chooi Peng, 54, to use a forged document, namely the company’s interim financial statement for the period ended March 31, 2023 (third quarter), as genuine.

The offence was allegedly committed on May 29 last year at Bursa Malaysia’s office in Exchange Square, Bukit Kewangan, here.

The charge was framed under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read with Section 471 of the same law, which provides for up to two years of imprisonment, a fine or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Anis Najwa Nazari offered bail of RM20,000 with one surety, on condition that the accused report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s office once a month and surrender his passport to the court.

“Tai should have been charged earlier, but he is often abroad and it was difficult for the prosecution to locate his whereabouts. Therefore, we feel that he is a flight risk,” she said.

Judge Azura Alwi granted Tai, who was represented by lawyer Wan Shahrizal Wan Ladin, bail of RM20,000 with one surety.

She also ordered Tai to surrender his passport to the court and set July 5 for case mention.

On Jan 13 last year, Tai pleaded not guilty in the sessions court here to charges of submitting false documents to an auditing company regarding the sale and disposal of used machines worth RM2.95 million.

The High Court acquitted Tai of the charges on Oct 24.