ALAM Maritim Resources Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Azmi Ahmad has claimed trial to two charges of cheating a company officer by allegedly withholding actual vessel charter rates.
Azmi, 67, pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin today.
The charges relate to two work orders dated Aug 24, 2023 and Jan 15, 2024, which stated daily charter rates of RM80,500 and RM110,000 respectively.
Azmi is accused of concealing the offers from Iskandar Mohd Zaffa, 48, a principal officer of TH Alam Management Sdn Bhd, to induce him to sign BIMCO Supplytime 2017 agreements at lower rates of RM70,000 and RM78,000 a day.
The first charge concerns an agreement between Alam-JV DP2 (L) Inc and Alam Maritim (M) Sdn Bhd, while the second involves TH-Alam Management (M) Sdn Bhd and Alam Maritim (M) Sdn Bhd.
The alleged offences took place at Jalan Radin Anum, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, on Sept 6, 2023 and Jan 16, 2024.
Azmi is charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum five-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Azmi, who was dressed in a black suit, told the court he understood the charges and wished to be tried.
The case comes against the backdrop of a separate MACC investigation involving Tabung Haji.
It was reported on Aug 15 that the anti-graft agency had detained seven people, including a CEO, a company director, a former company director and four former senior management officers of Lembaga Tabung Haji, to assist investigations into issues raised in the Royal Commission of Inquiry report on Tabung Haji.
A source was quoted as saying that a shipping company CEO in his 60s, who held the title Datuk, had been detained over allegations of submitting documents containing false material details in connection with payments to Tabung Haji.
The source said the investigation centred on alleged falsification of petroleum company contract documents for the benefit of the CEO’s own company.
The investigation is separate from the two charges faced by Azmi in the Sessions Court today. – September 10, 2026
