Eric Chia Acquitted

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Sessions Court here today acquitted and discharged Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock, the former managing director of Perwaja Steel Sdn Bhd, without calling for his defence on charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM76.4 million.
Judge Akhtar Tahir said the prosecution had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Chia.
The prosecution, led by Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden, closed its case on May 4 after calling 29 witnesses.
On Feb 10 2004, Chia, 74, pleaded not guilty to the original charge of CBT of the same amount by dishonestly authorising the payment of the amount to the account of Frilsham Enterprise Incorporated with American Express Bank Ltd in Hong Kong for technical assistance provided in Gurun when no such payment was due.
Alternatively, six months later, he was charged with dishonestly disposing of the funds by entering into an agreement with NKK Corporation of Japan and authorising the payment of the amount without the approval of the board of directors or tender committee of Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development Sdn Bhd.
He was charged with having committed both offences in his capacity as managing director of Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development Sdn Bhd at its office in Menara UBN in Jalan P. Ramlee here between Nov 4 1993 and Feb 22 1994.
On both counts, he was charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of between two and 20 years and whipping, and the liability of a fine upon conviction.
Chia, who was represented by lead counsel Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, was allowed to sit behind the defence team due to his brittle diabetic condition.
Both DPP Yusof and Muhammad Shafee summed up their arguments verbally on May 31 and June 1, respectively.
Yusof closed the prosecution's case in 34 pages, covering all evidence obtained from witnesses including from Hong Kong, Japan, Zurich and Geneva, while Muhammed Shafee's summing-up was contained in a 300-page document.

The Truth Finally Prevails, Says Eric Chia

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- "The truth has finally prevailed. It is like mixing water with oil. After a while, the water will float and the oil will sink," said Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock, former managing director of Perwaja Steel Sdn Bhd, after the Sessions Court acquitted him of criminal breach of trust charges involving RM76.4 million Tuesday.
Although his acquittal was a happy moment for him, Chia lamented that the trial had ruined his family life and he was leading a broken life after his children decided to settle down abroad.
He said that his 45-year-old son and 33-year-old daughter, driven by embarrassment, moved to United States and Hong Kong, respectively, and would only visit him once a year and call him occasionally.
"Yes, I can move on with my life but what about my broken family. You don't have a family. How do you proceed with your life?" he said, adding that he had not seen his children for years.
Chia said that for him, Malaysia was his home and he would live and die here.
Chia said he also lost his friends when the trial began and some of his friends accused him of being a crook.
"I went to Perwaja after (former prime minister)Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad asked me to. He told me in 1988 that I had to return the favour to the land," he said.
Chia said he would visit Tibet to perform prayers to thank God for his acquittal.


tunku : what say raja petra and the opposition group, the judge has been bought by eric chia? i'm sure if he was found guilty then certain group will pull Tun Dr Mahathir in.truth prevails