IPOH: Cosmetics entrepreneur Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman, popularly known as 'Dr Vida', was charged at the Sessions Court here today with failing to pay the Goods and Services Tax (GST) totaling more than RM4 million.
The founder of Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd was slapped with 32 counts under two offences according to the Goods and Services Tax Act 2014, namely for failing to pay the tax and for failing to produce GST statements.
Hasmiza, who arrived about 9am, was ushered into the courtroom by several Customs Department officers.
She pleaded not guilty to both offences when the charges were read to her in front of Sessions judge Murtazadi Amran.
For the first charge, the 45-year-old entrepreneur was slapped with 16 counts of failure to pay the tax from April 2015 to July this year.
As for the second charge, Hasmiza allegedly failed to produce GST statements for the same period.
She was charged under Section 41(7) of the GST Act 2014 and Section 41(6) of the same Act, respectively, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or three years jail term or both, upon conviction.
Murtazadi set bail of RM60,000 and RM50,000 for each charge with one surety, respectively.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran and Farah Ezlin Yusof Khan prosecuted while Hasmiza was represented by Khairilazwar Khalil and Syed Ahmad Syed Abas.
The court fixed Nov 15 for mention.