Car Saleswoman Jailed For Misusing $28,000 Deposit
By Rol Ezam

Bandar Seri Begawan - A 42-year-old former Econ Motors saleswoman was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Bandar Magistrate's Court yesterday after she pleaded guilty to misusing a car deposit amounting to more than $28,000.

Hjh Asiah binti Awang Metali, who is married with four children, admitted to committing criminal breach of trust of money amounting to $28,294.00.

The court yesterday heard that the defendant met with a customer regarding the purchase of a Toyota Prado sold under NBT Sdn Bhd.

In the meeting, the customer agreed to secure the car with a deposit of $35,000.

The customer entrusted the defendant with the money and surrendered $35,000 to her on the understanding that it would be for the deposit on the car.

During her employment with Econ Motors Sdn Bhd, she was not entitled under the terms of her employment to deal with car models which are not dealt by Econ Motors and was at no time under the employment of NBT.

After receiving the money, she went to see an employee of NBT to arrange for the deposit on the car. She made one payment of $5,000 to the employee of NBT on March 11, 2004 and a second payment of $1,706.00 two days later. The defendant gave a total of $6,706.00 to the employee of NBT for the deposit on the car, the court heard.

Two weeks after the customer handed the money to the defendant, the car was given to him but it did not come with any road tax or registration number.

The next day, the customer went to NBT and returned the car as he was suspicious because it had no road tax. While he was there, he discovered that only $6.706.00 of the $35,000 had been given to NBT as a deposit.

The customer went to meet with the defendant and explained the situation to her. The defendant agreed with the situation, and he asked for the remainder of $28,294.00 to be returned to him.

Realising the consequences of her act, the defendant agreed to pay back the amount in a week's time but she failed to pay the remaining sum of $28,294.00 as promised until today, the court was told. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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