KUALA LUMPUR: A former lawyer claimed trial at a separate Sessions Court here to 18 counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM1.34mil from a law firm five years ago.

       Loo Keong Loong, 45, however, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read before judges Kamarudin Kamsun and Sabariah Othman at their respective courts here on Wednesday (Dec 15).

       According to the first until the 18th charges, Loo, as a partner at Messrs Yap & Loo, was entrusted with monies from the firm’s client accounts, and he had allegedly committed CBT by taking a total of RM1,348,584.50 through 18 cheques for his personal use.

       He allegedly committed the offences at Messrs Yap & Loo, Jalan Solaris Mont Kiara, here, between Jan 6 and Feb 23, 2016.

       The charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code carry imprisonment of no less than two years and a maximum of 20 years, with whipping and can be fined, if convicted.

       Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurliyana Mohd Jafri proposed bail at RM60,000 in one surety for the 12 charges at judge Kamarudin’s court, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Aqilah Ishak proposed bail at RM36,000 in one surety for the remaining six charges before judge Sabariah.

       Meanwhile, lawyer Tan Teck Yew, who represented the accused, pleaded for a lower bail amount as his client is now working as a clerk with only a RM2,000 monthly income.

       The courts allowed a total of RM70,000 bail in three sureties across all charges.

       The accused was also ordered to report himself monthly to the nearest police station and not to harass the witnesses in the case.

       Loo was also instructed to surrender his passport to the court pending the completion of the case.

       The case has been fixed for mention on Jan 21.