The sessions court has allocated 15 days for the trial next year concerning Fashion Valet Sdn Bhd founders Vivy Sofinas and her husband Fadzarudin Shah Anuar, who face charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM8 million in investment funds from Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd. Judge Rosli Ahmad scheduled the trial for April 13 to 17, May 18 to 22, and June 8 to 12.
"The trial will last for 15 days, and the next case mention is set for Oct 27," Rosli stated.
Lawyer M Athimulan represents the couple.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin requested the court to confirm the trial dates agreed upon by both sides.
Wan Shaharuddin also informed the court that the prosecution would call 26 witnesses to testify.
The accused, both aged 37, were absent from court today as they were excused from attending.
On Dec 5 of last year, Vivy and Fadzarudin pleaded not guilty to the CBT charges in their roles as directors of Fashion Valet. They were accused of misappropriating investment funds entrusted to them by Khazanah and PNB by transferring RM8 million from Fashion Valet’s company account to 30 Maple Sdn Bhd without the board of directors' approval.
The alleged offense took place at Public Bank Bhd, Bukit Damansara Branch, 36-40 Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, on August 21, 2018.
The charge, presented under Section 409 of the Penal Code in conjunction with Section 34 of the same code, stipulates a minimum sentence of two years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, along with whipping and a fine if convicted.
Vivy and Fadzarudin also entered not guilty pleas to an alternative charge of jointly and dishonestly misusing company resources, specifically RM8 million in investment funds from Khazanah and PNB belonging to Fashion Valet, under Section 403 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34 of the same code, which allows for imprisonment ranging from six months to five years, plus caning and a fine upon conviction.
