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A CHINESE national who serves as director of a local investment company pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of deceiving the Johor Department of Environment (JAS) in relation to the purchase of four shipping containers three years ago.
Chen Zhenlong, 48, entered the plea after the charge was read in Mandarin before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.
According to the charge sheet, Chen is accused of misleading JAS Johor into believing that his company, Ascent Asia Industries Sdn Bhd, was not the purchaser of the four containers, when in fact it was. The alleged offence took place on 19 January 2022.
By providing the false information, Chen allegedly induced the Director of JAS Johor to refrain from taking enforcement action against Ascent Asia Industries under Section 31(1) and Section 37(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127).
He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code read together with Section 417, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Prosecuting officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Rais Adha Ramli, requested bail to be set at RM20,000, citing flight risk due to the accused's foreign nationality.
However, Chen’s lawyer, Jeremy Chan, urged the court to reduce the amount, noting that his client manages an ongoing business in Malaysia and needs to support his family in China.
The court maintained bail at RM20,000 with one surety, and set 29 October for the next mention of the case. - September 23, 2025
