KUALA LUMPUR: A former marketing agent of a company that marketed frozen chicken and meat products is accused of deceiving a cooperative, leading to losses of nearly RM900,000.
The man, in his 40s, who has been dismissed from the marketing company, is alleged to have committed breach of trust by using another company's name to obtain product supplies, and absconding with the sales proceeds.
The fraud took place in 2020, when the former employee allegedly used three different companies to place supply orders, and failed to make payments after receiving the supplies.
Chief Executive Officer of ZZ Halfood Resources, Mohd Mahmudin Misbah, who came forward to clarify the situation, said the actions of his former employee were uncovered after the cooperative notified that they did not receive the sales proceeds, resulting in losses of nearly RM900,000.
Mahmudin stated that his company was appointed as the marketing company for frozen chicken and meat products by Koperasi Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (Sahabat) to handle the marketing of the said products and to hand over the sales proceeds to the cooperative.
He mentioned that the company appointed several employees as marketing agents, including the accused, who managed to bring in some clients.
"I was unaware of his actions because we were not given access to his list of clients.
"I started to become suspicious of his actions, and my suspicion was confirmed when the cooperative informed me that they had received supply orders from him but had not received payment.
"I then conducted an internal investigation, and he admitted to it. I have since dismissed him and filed a report to clear my company's name," he said at a press conference at the office of the International Humanitarian Organization (MHO) here today.
Mahmudin said the former employee submitted supply orders from three companies, involving an amount of RM865,559.80.
"The man submitted a novation agreement (debt guarantee) with the said three companies without my knowledge, and they asked us and the cooperative to demand payment from him.
"To this day, the former employee has failed to settle the payment owed to the cooperative. I apologise to the cooperative and its members, and I will cooperate in taking action against the former employee," he said.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Koperasi Sahabat, Mazri Mahmood, said that as an entity responsible for public funds with more than 400,000 members from the B40 income group, they would not hesitate to take legal action.
"We want to take legal action to ensure that individuals who have intentions to deceive are taught a proper lesson, and this would serve as a warning to others to not defraud cooperatives," he said.
MHO Secretary General, Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, said that his organization is urging the authorities to open an investigation under fraud and criminal breach of trust due to the losses suffered by Koperasi Sahabat.