Matilda Chua is alleged to have created a false and misleading appearance of the share price of WizOffice through the trading of its shares.

An executive of Seah Holdings, Seah Say Yoong, and his son, Seah Chin Yew, the former CEO of WizOffice.com, were also charged together with Chua.

37-year-old Chua was back in court to answer charges that she created a false or misleading appearance over the share price of WizOffice.

WizOffice was previously an e-commerce company before it was transformed into a property firm two years ago and renamed Japan Land Limited.

Chua is alleged to have authorised the sale of nearly 9.9 million shares of WizOffice at a price of four-and-a-half cents a share when the shares were only worth three cents.

The sale was made by Global Net Relations, a call-centre firm of which she is a director, to Seah Holdings.

The CEO of Seah Holdings, 69-year old Seah Say Yoong, faces the same charge along with Chua.

His son, 33-year-old Seah Chin Yew, the former CEO of WizOffice, was charged with facilitating the transaction.

In addition, both father and son were also charged under the Penal Code.

In the younger Seah's case, he is slapped with two counts of abetting Chua by instigating her to falsify the accounts of Global Net Relations with intent to defraud.

The senior Seah is charged with abetting an accounts clerk at Seah Holdings by instigating her to falsify the accounts with intent to defraud.

The latest charges were uncovered as authorities were investigating the National Kidney Foundation scandal.

Chua has two previous charges for falsifying accounts. Her bail has been increased from S$20,000 to S$30,000.

Bail for the two Seahs is S$30,000 each and their passports have been impounded.

The case for the three accused will be mentioned again next Tuesday.

Each of the charge carries a maximum of seven years' imprisonment, fine of up to S$250,000, or both. - CNA/de

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