A 63-YEAR-OLD accountant has claimed trial at the Magistrates’ Court in George Town to a charge of helping and advising a company to prepare an income statement that resulted in the under-reporting of RM2.53 million in tax to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) in 2021.
Chew Ai Keow, a partner in accounting services firm Abbacus Cloud Solutions, pleaded not guilty and opted for trial after the charge was read before Magistrate Noor Idayu Salim.
According to the charge, Chew allegedly helped and advised Penshrimp Fishery Sdn Bhd in submitting its income statement to the Director-General of Inland Revenue by reviewing and approving the preparation of its sales ledger without including RM10,678,133 in sales transactions recorded in the company’s bank account.
The transactions were allegedly required to be recorded in the company’s accounts.
Chew is alleged to have committed the offence at premises at 105-07-07, Jalan Gurdwara, Hexagon Tech Park, Penang, while serving as the company’s accounting service provider between January and March 2021.
The alleged omission resulted in the preparation of the company’s income statement under Section 77A(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967, in Form C for the 2020 assessment year dated March 25, 2021, which was submitted to LHDN with an alleged tax under-reporting of RM2,526,144.24.
She was charged under Subsection 114(1A) of the Income Tax Act 1967, which provides for a fine of between RM2,000 and RM20,000, or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
IRB prosecuting officer Azniwati Yahya appeared for the prosecution, while Chew was represented by lawyer N Dylan.
Azniwati proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
However, Dylan urged the court to set bail at the minimum amount, saying his client had a family and permanent employment in Penang and was not a flight risk.
The court subsequently granted bail of RM4,000 with one surety and set October 28 for mention of the case and submission of documents. - September 2, 2026
