Ex-executive chairman of Megan Media loses appeal to be spared jail sentence

A former executive chairman of Megan Media Holdings who was convicted for submitting false information about the group's revenue to Bursa Malaysia lost his appeal to be spared the jail sentence.

A Court of Appeal three-man panel led by Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said today dismissed Datuk Dr Mohd Adam Che Harun's appeal to set aside his jail term.

Mohd Adam, 77, has to serve 18 months jail as the court allowed a cross-appeal by the prosecution to reinstate a Sessions Court's decision which imposed the jail term on him.

In 2017, the Sessions Court sentenced Mohd Adam to 18 months jail and fined him RM300,000, which he paid.

On an appeal by Mohd Adam, the High Court, last year, reduced the jail term to six months and maintained the fine.

In allowing the cross-appeal, Justice Kamaludin, who presided with Datuk P. Ravinthran and Datuk Indera Mohd Sofian Abd Razak, said it was submitted by the prosecution that Mohd Adam had committed a heinous crime as it attacked the integrity of the securities market.

A mere fine would be a slapped in the wrist, he added.

Mohd Adam wanted the court to maintain the RM300,000 fine imposed on him. He did not pursue his appeal against his conviction.

Lawyer Datuk Shukri Mohamed, representing Mohd Adam, told the court that his client was unfit to go to prison as he has health problems.

However, the prosecution, represented by deputy public prosecutor V.Shoba, from the Securities Comission (SC), said the lower courts had considered his medical condition when imposing the sentence.

Also appearing for the prosecution was SC deputy public prosecutor Roz Mawar Rozain.

Mohd Adam was charged on Dec 10, 2007, with furnishing false information to Bursa Malaysia on Page 2 of the Quarterly Report on Consolidated Results of Megan Media for the financial period that ended on Jan 31, 2007.

The offence was committed at Bursa Malaysia in Bukit Kewangan here on March 30, 2007.

-- BERNAMA