Sept 28 verdict for Umno divisional deputy head

KOTA KINABALU - The Sessions Court will deliver its verdict on September 28 this year in a case involving Putatan Umno deputy head, who was charged with non-compliance of the removal order issued against him under the Co-operative Society Act 1993.

Judge Caroline Bee Majanil set the date to deliver her judgment of Arsit Sedi @ Sidik, 59, at the close of the defence case.

The accused who was defended by counsel Datuk Nobert Chin, called five witnesses to testify.

Arsit, who was removed from being a board member of the Sabah Government Employees Cooperative Society Bhd (KOPEKS) under Section 69 (6) of the Co-operative Society Act 1993 on January 12, 2006, allegedly failed to comply with the said order by becoming a board member of Lembaga Koperasi Pembangunan Usahasama Masyarakat Maju Sabah Berhad on November 21, 2009.

He allegedly committed the offence at a hotel on November 21, 2009.

Arsit was charged under Section 70 of the Co-operative Society Act 1993 which provides for a fine not exceeding RM100,000, upon conviction.

Under the law, if an officer of a co-operative society has been removed by an order of the commission, such officer shall not be eligible to be appointed as a member of the board or any committee of the co-operative society or to be re-employed by that or any other co-operative society, as the case may be, for a period of five years from the date of such removal.

Deputy public prosecutors Kamarulzaman Mohd Buhari and Zarina Jamaludin had called six witnesses to testify against Arsit.

On August 28 this year, Arsit was called to enter his defence after the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.

He is currently released on RM2,000 bail deposited with two local sureties, pending disposal of the case.