The failure to specify distinct offences in charges led to duplicity, causing a miscarriage of justice, and resulting in the quashing of the appellant's convictions.

Wendy Ooi Su Ghee JC:

Introduction

[1] This appeal is directed against the judgment dated 18 October 2024 passed by the Sessions Court Judge at Shah Alam, Selangor wherein the trial judge found the appellant guilty of committing two (2) offences under s 471 of the Penal Code and punishable under s 465 of the same Code.

Background

[2] The charges against the appellant read as follows:

First amended charge

"Bahawa kamu pada tarikh 16 May 2012, bertempat di Crystal Crown Group Alluminium Extrusion (M) Sdn Bhd, Lot 14860, Jalan Pusara, Telok Gong, 42000, Pefabuhan Klang, dalam Daerah Klang, dalam Negeri Selangor dengan curangnya telah menggunakan sebagai tulen satu dokumen iaitu Directors Reseolution dan Members Resolution, Syarikat Crystal Crown Group AHuminium Extrusion (M) Sdn Bhd bertarikh 16 May 2012, yang kamu mempunyai sebab untuk mempercayai bahawa dokumen tersebut adalah dokumen palsu, oleh yang demikian, kamu telah melakukan suatu kesalahan di bawah s 471 Kanun Keseksaan dan boieh dihukum di bawah s 465 Kanun Keseksaan. "

Second amended charge

"Bahawa kamu pada tarikh 31 May 2012, bertempat di Crystal Crown Group AHuminium Extrusion (M) Sdn Bhd, Lot 14860, Jalan Pusara, Telok Gong, 42000, Pelabuhan Klang, dalam Daerah Klang, dalam Negeri Selangor dengan curangnya telah menggunakan sebagai tulen satu dokumen iaitu Directors Reseolution dan Members Resolution, Syarikat Crystal Crown Group AHuminium Extrusion (M) Sdn Bhd bertarikh 31 May 2012, yang kamu mempunyai sebab untuk mempercayai bahawa dokumen tersebut adalah dokumen palsu, oleh yang demikian, kamu telah melakukan suatu kesalahan di bawah s 471 Kanun Keseksaan dan boieh dihukum dibawah s 465 Kanun Keseksaan."

[3] After a lengthy trial that span over a period of almost two (2) years which involved ten (10) prosecution witnesses and one (1) defence witness, the learned trial judge convicted and sentenced the appellant to one (1) year six (6) months imprisonment and a fine of RM10,000-00 in default one (1) year imprisonment for the 1st amended charge. The same sentences were meted out for the 2nd amended charge. The trial judge also ordered the sentences of imprisonment to run consecutively from the date of conviction (ie 18 October 2024).

Prosecution Case

[4] A total of ten (10) witnesses were called by the prosecution where their testimonies are summarized as below.

[5] PW1 (Tan Hock Chuan - the complainant) and the appellant were directors and shareholders of a company registered under the name and style of Crystal Crown Group Alluminium Extrusion (M) Sdn Bhd ("CGA").

[6] The appellant was also the founder of CGA in 2009 where he held 70% of the shares in the said company. The other five (5) shareholders were Choong Fook Seong (PW4), Choo Chee Chien (PW6), Goh Sze Wal, Lim Lian Chee, and Tan Yi Ming. PW4 held 10% of the shares with the remaining 20% of the shares to the other shareholders.

[7] PW1 who is also the nephew of the appellant, managed business operations in CGA. The appellant, on the other hand, managed CGA's finances including obtaining bank loans.

[8] Sometime in 2018, PW1 was informed by Mr Ong, a manager of Citibank Berhad, that CGA was a corporate guarantor to a few companies. Surprised by the news, PW1 and his brother-in-law Eoon Thian Chong went to see Tan Huee Keng (PW3) who was the secretary of CGA at her office. There, PW1 viewed all the documents related to the Corporate Guarantees such as the Directors' Resolution, Members' Resolution and the CIMB Bank Loan Offer Letter with the purpose of obtaining certainty of the information.

[9] Upon perusal of same, PW1 claimed that he had neither seen the following documents nor affix his signatures on the same:

(i) CGA Directors' Resolution dated 16 May 2012 [exh P3(A)] executed by both the appellant and PW1 for a corporate guarantee in favour of Syarikat Aksi Desiran Sdn Bhd;

(ii) CGA Members' Resolution dated 16 May 2012 [exh P3(B)] executed by the appellant, PW1, Choo Chee Chien (PW6), Lim Len Cher, Goh Sze