SIBU, Nov 21: A man was sentenced to 40 months in prison and 44 stokes of the rotan after he pleaded guilty to 44 counts of fraud involving RM369,290 at the Magistrate’s Court here today.
Ling Tzer Sheng, 28, made the plea after the charges were read out to him before Judge Muhammad Faizal Che Saad.
For the first charge, involving 40 cases of fertiliser and oil palm investment scams, the accused was sentenced to three years and four months’ imprisonment together with 40 lashes.
For the second charge, involving four cases, the accused was sentenced to a one year and two months’ imprisonment together with four strokes of the rotan.
The court ordered the prison sentence to run concurrently.
According to the state Commercial Crime Investigation (CCID) chief, Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah, a total of 52 individuals fell victim to the scam committed between Jan 6 and Dec 16, 2018.
He said two police reports were received on the scam on Jan 17 and Jan 23, 2019.
“The modus operandi is that the accused had promised a 10 per cent return from the investment in seven days. He also issued a collateral cheque to the victim, which was not fulfillable as there was no money in the account.
“The accused, then unable to be contacted, disappeared together with with the money belonging to 52 victims from Sibu,” he said in a press statement.
Mustafa Kamal added that the accused was arrested on Nov 13 in Kuala Lumpur by the CCID from Bukit Aman.
Ling was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year (mandatory) and not more than 10 years with whipping. He is also be liable to a fine.
Inspector Awang Iswandi Awang Mahmuddin prosecuted. — DayakDaily
