By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Feb 5: Eleven People’s Republic of China citizens were charged at the Magistrate’s Court and Sessions Court here with involvement in online scamming activities and non-existent money lending activities.
All the 11 accused aged between 21 and 34 pleaded not guilty to the charges framed.
Magistrate Siti Zubaidah Sarkawi set bail of RM5,000 with two local sureties for each accused and each charge, and also fixed March 3 for further mention.
Meanwhile, Sessions Court Judge Dayang Ellis Narisa ordered the immigration case to be charged in the Special Immigration Court in Serian on February 5.
During a raid on a semi-detached house at Jalan Stampin Tengah at about 7.45pm on Jan 15, a Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department team arrested the accused for online scam activities by offering non-existent money lending.
The police also confiscated a computer, 22 mobile phones, 56 SIM cards, six routers, four ATM cards, two card scanners, a car and all kinds of documents.
The accused were charged under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code which is read together with Section 34, which carries imprisonment of between one year and ten years, and whipping and fine.
Besides that, four of the accused were found to have expired permits, and were charged under Section 15(4) of the 1959/63 Immigration Act, which carries a fine not less than RM10,000 or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both, upon conviction.
The other seven accused face charges of violating the terms of their pass, permit or border pass. They were charged under Rule 39(b) of Immigration Ordinance 1963, which carries a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both, upon conviction.
Officer Rogayah Rosli prosecuted while all the accused are represented by counsel Shankar Ram. — DayakDaily
