Absent Datuk forces businesswoman to part with RM700,000 bail

(The Star) – A Datuk, convicted of cheating and using forged documents involving almost RM12mil, had his appeal struck out as he was absent in court.

The failure of his bailor to appear and produce him in court also caused her RM700,000 bail to be forfeited.

High Court judge Justice Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah struck out the appeal filed by Datuk Paiman Shakimon against his jail term and conviction.

“The appeal is struck out as the appellant (Paiman) has no interest (to continue his appeal),” Justice Tee ruled.

Justice Tee forfeited the bail, saying that the bailor, businesswoman Dr Norma Ahmad, 55, had been given a last chance to produce Paiman in court.

(Justice Tee had on Sept 21 heard a show-cause proceeding, where Dr Norma was asked to explain why her RM700,000 house used as a collateral for Paiman’s bail should not be forfeited and she was given a last chance to produce Paiman in court yesterday.

(Dr Norma had said that she had gone to Paiman’s house three times but was unable to meet him. DPP Syed Faisal had also said police had gone to Paiman’s house in Country Heights, Kajang, three times but could not execute the July 20 arrest warrant issued against him.)

Paiman, 53, was sentenced by the Sessions Court here to 13 years jail on two counts of cheating and two counts of using forged documents involving almost RM12mil.

Justice Tee also issued a warrant to commit Paiman to jail.

Sessions judge Jagjit Singh ruled in April last year that Paiman’s defence was a mere denial and that he did not find him credible.

Syed Faisal told the judge that Paiman had failed to appear in court although he had previously contacted his former lawyer Gobind Singh Deo to file a petition of appeal.

“Gobind Singh discharged himself from acting for him at the last proceedings,” Syed Faisal added.

Paiman had pleaded not guilty on Sept 28, 2007, to cheating businessman Datuk Rosidi Kamaruddin, 60, into paying him RM3.8mil after inducing him to believe that a roll-over programme investment scheme was approved by Bank Negara and was profitable.

He had also claimed trial to duping lawyer Datuk Liew Teck Keong, 57, into paying him RM8mil after convincing him the same scheme was valid.

Paiman faced two other charges of using 28 forged documents in his dealings with both Rosidi and Liew.