KUALA LUMPUR: A cardiologist was charged in the Magistrate’s Court here on Monday for alleged tax evasion. The charge arises from the doctor reportedly under-declaring his income tax for five years. The under-declaration has been estimated by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) at RM6.58 million.
Dr Lee Chiang Heng, a heart specialist at Gleneagles Hospital who runs his own clinic as well, was charged under Section 114(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act for wilful evasion of income tax between the years 2007 and 2011. The charge relates to business revenue and salary.
Lee was said to have intended to leave out details on his business revenue and salary from his Borang B tax submission for the years 2007 to 2011. Lee’s total income for the five years was RM25 million, according to the IRB. If convicted, he will be fined up to RM20,000 or face a maximum jail sentence of three years or both. He may also have to pay a penalty three times what he owes the IRB.
Mohd Idham Omar represented Lee who was not present. He pleaded not guilty, through his lawyer, before Magistrate Siti Radziah Kamarudin.
The court fixed September 20 as the next mention date, pending lawyer Kheizwan Kamaruddin’s request to send a letter of representation to review the charge against the doctor.
IRD was represented by prosecuting officer Mohd Shafuddin Hasan. No bail was imposed.
