Man claims trial to eight charges of cheating businessman of RM470,000

The accused (centre) being escorted by police officers .

By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, April 14: A man from Sabah pleaded not guilty to eight charges of dishonestly inducing a local businessman to part with RM470,000.

Jaafar Zakaria, 57, from Kota Belud, Sabah was charged at three different Magistrate’s Courts here today.

He pleaded not guilty to all eight charges framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

He was charged with dishonestly inducing a 53-year-old man from Batu Kawah over a tender for a project purportedly involving the installation of LED lights in Sabah, when the project did not exist.

The victim had lost RM470,000 in this case and lodged a police report on January 16, 2022.

The accused was charged with three charges before Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali and was allowed to be released on cash bail of RM2,000 and court bail of RM5,000 with one local surety for each charge.

He was also charged with three charges before Magistrate Zubaidah Sharkawi where he was allowed to be released on cash bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties.

He was also charged with two charges before Magistrate Zaiton Anuar where he was allowed to be released on cash bail of RM2,000 with one local surety for each charge.

All three magistrates fixed May 24 for pre-trial case management.

The accused was unrepresented by counsel. — DayakDaily