A HIGH Court judge yesterday ordered Bank Bumiputra Malaysia Berhad to pay its former top man in Hong Kong more than $800,000 in unpaid benefits. Ibrahim Jaafar, who gave evidence for the Crown in a trial arising out of the 'Carrian scandal' claimed the money was owed to him as part of a package deal arranged between his employers and the Attorney-General's chambers. Mrs Justice Le Pichon criticised the bank for the way in which it had dealt with Mr Jaafar's claims. His employment was terminated in February 1991. The delay in settling his claims was 'wholly unnecessary', said the judge. She added: 'The manner in which it dealt with some of the claims would have exasperated anyone with less patience and fortitude than the plaintiff.' Mr Jaafar gave evidence for the Crown in the 1986 fraud trial after being granted immunity from prosecution. He had been suspended from his position in May 1985 amid allegations relating to his conduct as general manager of the bank's Hong Kong subsidiary, Bank Bumiputra Finance Ltd (BMFL). Jonathan Shaw, for Mr Jaafar, told the court during the civil trial that Bank Bumiputra Malaysia (BBMB) wrote to him in October 1985 and agreed to grant him immunity from any claims arising from his position with the bank. In return Mr Jaafar was to testify on its behalf in civil proceedings. Mr Shaw said: 'It was expressly stated that he would continue to be employed on the same terms and conditions as before and he fully complied with his undertakings under the immunity letter.' Mrs Justice Le Pichon said it was Mr Jaafar's unchallenged evidence that the pledge made by the bank to honour his contract was part of a package deal struck with the Attorney-General's Chambers. 'Under this package deal the plaintiff had to render assistance to the Hong Kong and Malaysian authorities,' she added. Mr Jaafar was first employed by BBMB in 1972. He was seconded to BMFL in 1977. 'In 1983 the Carrian scandal surfaced which involved the most senior officers of BMFL in Hong Kong. The plaintiff was not culpably involved but nevertheless offered to resign in August 1983. 'His resignation was not accepted,' Mr Shaw told the court. Mr Jaafar was appointed chief representative of BBMB in Hong Kong in September 1994. The judge awarded him $197,594 for air travel, $172,406 for the use of a car, $402,465 for a tax reimbursement, $30,065 for international telephone calls, $33,679 for petrol expenses, $825 for entertainment expenses, $811 for car repair and maintenance and $271 for newspapers and periodicals. She also ordered that the bank pay M$71,050 (HK$214,000) by way of leave entitlement. Mr Jaafar will also receive interest in relation to some of the payments.
