Former NKF board members, CEO back in court over criminal charges

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 25 April 2006 1707 hrs
By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The former chief executive of the National Kidney Foundation, TT Durai, and some former board members were back in court on Tuesday.

Fifty-seven-year old Durai was among five people appearing at the Subordinate Courts for a pre-trial conference relating to criminal charges brought against them.

They were charged with deceiving the NKF and falsifying accounts, after eight months of investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the Commercial Affairs Department.

Also in court were Matilda Chua, former NKF chairman Richard Yong, and former treasurer Loo Say San.

The former assistant manager of the NKF purchasing department, Ragini Vijayalingam, who was unrepresented last time, has now appointed a lawyer.

While in chambers, the lawyers for Durai, Yong, Loo and Chua asked the prosecution for the relevant documents held by the authorities pertaining to the charges, before proceeding with the case.

But Ragini's lawyer, Harvindarjit Singh Bath of Surian & Partners, will be making representations.

Channel NewsAsia understands this means her lawyer is asking the prosecution to withdraw all 11 charges against her.

Durai and Chua face two charges each, while Yong and Loo face one count each of failing in their duties as directors. Their cases will be mentioned again on May 22. - CNA /ct