SHAH ALAM: Aman Palestin Berhad (Aman Palestin) executive chairman and its chief executive officer (CEO) were among three individuals charged in the Sessions Court here today with 164 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), cheating and money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in the company's funds

The executive chairman, Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman, 58, CEO Awang Suffian Awang Piut, 52, and a director of an investment company, Khairudin Mohd Ali, 49, pleaded not guilty to all the charges which were read out before Judge Datuk Anita Aaron.

Abdullah Zaik and Awang Suffian, in their capacity as directors of Samudra Champa Sdn Bhd (Samudra Champa) who were entrusted with property amounting to RM20,946,498.80, belonging to Aman Palstion, were each charged with 52 counts of CBT of the property a bank in Bandar Baru Bangi near here between March 12, 2018, and Nov 3, 2023.

They were charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years, whipping and a fine, if convicted.

They are also jointly charged with 19 counts of cheating by deceiving the Aman Palestine Board of Trustees into handing over RM39,150,000 in cash to Samudra Champa for the purchase of gold, whereby the purchase price was lower.