Lawyer charged with cheating over land auction
06/06/2008 The Star

MALACCA: A 41-year-old lawyer was charged in the Sessions Court here with cheating in connection with the auction of properties resulting in a company losing about RM4mil.

Yap Bell Pung, from Ujong Pasir, claimed trial to the charge that he cheated Kemajuan Flora Sdn Bhd with regard to the auction of three pieces of land in Alor Gajah on June 26, 2000.

He was alleged to have claimed to be the agent of Kemajuan Flora during the auction and persuaded three people not to bid for the properties.

The properties were later auctioned at a reserved price of RM4.203mil to Syarikat Penara Jaya Sdn Bhd.

Following this, police reports were lodge by Lock Kim Lian, 30, on behalf of Kemajuan Flora, in 2001 and 2002 claiming that the properties could have been auctioned off for RM8mil.

Earlier during bail application, Yap’s counsel J. Armadas informed the court that Kemajuan Flora had been unsuccessful in eight previous civil suits against Yap.

He said that Kemajuan Flora had also lodged a complaint with the Bar Council’s disciplinary board against Yap, which was subsequently dismissed.

He said Yap filed a RM3mil defamation suit against Kemajuan Flora which was due for hearing at the High Court here on Aug 20.

Sessions Court judge Ahmad Kamar Jamaluddin fixed bail at RM50,000 in one surety and set trial for Sept 2.

Malacca Bar Committee chairman Ng Kong Peng and counsel Ng Aik Beng held watching brief for Yap.