Judge orders arrest of fraud

Judge orders arrest of fraud

SINGAPORE (AFP): Former Asian biscuit king Rajan Pillai, convicted here for defrauding his company, failed to appear in court for his sentencing yesterday, prompting the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Pillai, former managing director of Britannia Industries Pte. Ltd., (BIPL) could be punished with up to 14 years in prison after his conviction Monday on 24 counts of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

"The accused is not here," R. Palakrishnan, a defense counsel, said. "He has flown to Bombay."

Judge Low Wee Ping of the District Court issued a warrant for Pillai's arrest after being informed that the 47-year-old former tycoon was absent for his sentencing, prosecutors of the Commercial Affairs Department said.

Judge Low also issued a "show-cause" notice for the defense to explain tomorrow why Pillai's three million Singapore dollar (US$2 million) bail should not be forfeited, they said.