Ex-Mara Corp CEO ordered to pay RM3.47 million after appeal rejected

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by former Mara Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Mara Corp) Group CEO Datuk Badlisyah Abdul Ghani, upholding a High Court order for him to pay RM3.47 million to the company. A three-judge panel, led by Datuk Wong Kian Kheong, unanimously affirmed the High Court's ruling, finding no grounds for intervention.

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In their judgment, the panel stated the High Court correctly ruled in favor of Mara Corp's claim after reviewing documents and witness testimonies. The High Court had previously ordered Badlisyah to pay RM3,468,215.42 and cover the company's legal costs related to an employment dispute.

Mara Corp had sued Badlisyah for alleged breaches of contractual, fiduciary, and statutory duties, claiming these actions resulted in losses of around RM21 million. Appointed GCEO in September 2020, Badlisyah was responsible for adhering to company policies, reporting to the Board of Directors, and protecting Mara Corp's interests. However, the company found he exceeded his authority shortly after his appointment, leading to his suspension in November 2020.

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Specifically, Badlisyah was found to have overstepped his powers by appointing 12 individuals and extending a current employee's contract without proper board approval. He also hired 24 new staff and extended another contract, causing Mara Corp significant additional financial burdens. The annual cost for these 25 employees was approximately RM9.4 million, far exceeding the approved emolument budget of RM1.799 million for 2020. This hiring spree also led to administrative staff expenses exceeding the allocated budget by 156 percent.

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