Cosmetic tycoon and pioneer of Vida Beauty, Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman today was allowed a bail of RM1.7 million with a bailor from the Sessions Court, here on all counts of tax evasion.

Hasmiza or also known as Vida was charged with 16 counts under Section 41 (7) of the Government Services Tax Act 2014 and Section 41 (6) of the same Act, respectively for tax evasion between April 2015 and July 2016 amounting to RM4.2 million.

Sessions judge, Murtazadi Amran has also demanded for her passport to be surrendered to court.

Vida committed the offence at the Malaysian Royal Customs Department station, GST Division, Wisma Kastam, No 1, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in Ipoh.

READ: Datuk Seri Vida to be charged in Ipoh Court for GST-related offences


According to a source close to the court, Vida's case was the first in which the defendant pleaded not guilty after being charged under the Section 41 (7) of the act.

Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusof asked for a RM100,000 bail on each charge with two sureties and for Vida’s passport to be confiscated considering the offences involve national revenue.

The defendant’s lawyer, Khairil Azwar Khalil sought for a lower bail, RM3,000 for each charge to be imposed on the sole owner of the company with 200 employees under her wing.

The prosecutor again asked for a RM100,000 bail for each offence.

Vida was charged under Section 41(7) of the GST Act 2014 and Section 41(6) of the same Act, respectively, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or three years jail term or both, upon conviction.

The court fixed Nov 15 for mention.