Long-serving employee disappears after internal probe links her to major financial misappropriation
A 58-year-old manager who served a roadworks supply company for over two decades has allegedly disappeared after RM10 million in company funds went missing, with RM2.5 million confirmed as misappropriated. Despite a police report and multiple appeals, her whereabouts remain unknown.
Long-Time Trust Turns Into Loss
A company based in Johor Bahru is calling on a former manager to return RM2.5 million allegedly misappropriated from company funds. The woman, entrusted with financial access since 2004, went missing in November 2023 after internal audits revealed discrepancies.
Business development manager Hoe Hong Seng said the manager, employed for over 20 years, diverted sales revenue into her personal account. “She had control over the company’s finances. We only noticed the issue when funds didn’t match recorded sales at the end of 2023,” Hoe said at a press conference hosted by Pasir Gudang MCA.
Final Encounter Before Disappearance
According to Hoe, after confronting the woman with evidence of RM2.5 million in missing funds, she admitted to the misappropriation and offered to repay only RM100,000. “We rejected the offer because the losses are far greater. She vanished shortly after that meeting,” Hoe added.
The company’s legal representative Tan Jun Jie, director Koh Chew Swee, and Johor MCA deputy secretary Chan San San were also present during the media briefing. Koh emphasized that the company seeks a fair resolution rather than public shame.
Broader Suspicion: RM10 Million
While RM2.5 million has been verified through receipts dating from 2018 to 2023, auditors believe the total loss may approach RM10 million, based on unaccounted revenue and repeated payment anomalies. Hoe added that attempts to contact the woman have failed, with her ex-husband claiming ignorance of her location.
Chan urged police to intensify efforts to track the suspect, saying, “We believe she is still in the country. Her family claims to know nothing, but we need closure for the company.”
Police Investigation Underway
Seri Alam OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Sohaimi Ishak confirmed that a report was lodged and the case is being investigated under Section 408 of the Penal Code, which addresses criminal breach of trust by agents. Police have visited the woman’s last known residence but failed to locate her.
Efforts to arrest the suspect are ongoing. The case highlights the vulnerabilities that even longstanding employees can present to corporate governance structures.
The disappearance of the long-serving manager amid missing funds raises serious concerns about internal financial controls and employee trust. For regional businesses and stakeholders, particularly across Indonesia and Singapore, the case underscores the importance of transparency, regular audits, and cross-border collaboration in addressing corporate crime.
Sources: NST (2025) , The Star (2025)
Keywords: Missing Manager, Company Fraud, RM10 Million, Johor Investigation, Pasir Gudang, Section 408 Penal Code
