16 months, caning for ex-supervisor who pawned gold bars for crypto

The offences took place at a gold shop in a shopping centre in Cheras between 10.42 am and 1.36 pm, from June 4 to June 8.

KUALA LUMPUR: A former gold shop supervisor who pawned three gold bars to trade in cryptocurrency was sentenced to 16 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court today for criminal breach of trust.

He is also set to be sentenced on a separate criminal breach of trust charge over a pawned gold chain in another Sessions Court.

Judge Azrul Darus handed Koh Mun Hoe, 33, 16 months’ jail and one stroke of the cane for each charge, ordering the sentences to run concurrently from today.

The charges state that Koh, entrusted with three 999 gold bars weighing 50 grammes and 100 grammes, all worth RM176,200, pawned them at a pawnshop for his personal use.

The offences took place at a gold shop in a shopping centre in Cheras between 10.42 am and 1.36 pm, from June 4 to June 8.

He was charged under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between one and 14 years, along with caning and a fine, upon conviction.

Based on the facts of the case, the complainant, a human resources manager at the premises, inspected the safe’s stock and found three gold bars missing.