PETALING JAYA: Three men, including one who is paralysed, were charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with cheating an insurance company of RM1.2 million.

Wong Ngan Nyok, 64, a lumberjack, was charged with cheating officers of Kurnia Insurans (M) Berhad by convincing them that the details on a claim given through two legal firms, T. Rajagopalu & Co and G. Dorai & Co, were true.

The firms were representing Wong's employee, K. Achutan, 42, in an accident claim.

In the claim, Wong had said that Achutan was hit by a lorry driven by another employee, Pang Kee Chong, 63, on July 24, 2004, in Jempol, Negri Sembilan, causing him to become paralysed.

The charge stated that he dishonestly induced the insurance company into paying RM1,175,862.52 as compensation to Achutan on May 9, 2007, following a decision by the Kuala Pilah Sessions Court.

He is alleged to have committed the offence between Sept 22 and Oct 27, 2004, at the insurance company's headquarters here.

Pang and Achutan were also charged separately with abetting Wong.

All three pleaded not guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Aida Md Zainudin and Aqeeb Lizalman Nordin prosecuted while Wong and Pang were represented by counsel Suraj Singh. Achutan was represented by counsel Mohd Saufi Samsudin.

Nur Aida proposed bail of RM100,000 each in one surety, saying that the amount in the case was huge and it involved a big company.

Both lawyers pleaded for the amount to be reduced.

Judge Rozina Ayob granted RM3,000 bail each in one surety and ordered them to surrender their passports to the court. She fixed Feb 20 for mention.