By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 21: A male employee of a moneylending firm pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of harassing a borrower at her business premises in 2023.
The 47-year-old accused entered the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Iris Awen Jon.
According to the charge sheet, the accused, acting on behalf of a licensed moneylender, allegedly disturbed a 36-year-old woman at her business located at Galacity KCLD along Jalan Tun Jugah on Oct 3, 2023, at around 11.40pm.
He was charged under Section 29B(1) of the Moneylenders Act 1951, which carries a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of between RM50,000 and RM250,000, or both. Repeat offenders may also face whipping.
Following the plea, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng offered bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties.
However, defence counsels Daniel Ling and Jackson Ngu requested a reduction to RM2,000 with a single surety, arguing that their client had cooperated throughout the investigation, had no intention of absconding, and was neither a flight risk nor facing a violent or drug-related charge.
The court later granted bail of RM5,000 with one local surety and ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month.
Case management has been fixed for Feb 26, 2026. — DayakDaily
