By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Dec 11: Two bank employees today claimed trial to allegations that they cheated a woman of RM300,000 through a bogus investment scheme purportedly offered by their bank.
The accused, aged 31 and 41, appeared before Magistrate Shafiza Abdul Razak Tready, who granted each of them RM10,000 bail in two sureties, with no deposit required. The court fixed January 26 next year for pre-trial case management.
According to the charge, the alleged offence took place at a bank branch in the city on August 19 this year.
They are charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a possible fine upon conviction.
The magistrate also ordered both accused to surrender their passports and report to the nearest police station once a week.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fadzri Azham Zainudin applied for RM500,000 cash bail for each accused, saying they are expected to face additional charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
He said a high bail was necessary to prevent any risk of flight and emphasised that the case involved public interest.
Counsel for the 31-year-old accused, Datuk Shankar Ram Asnani, objected to the prosecution’s request, arguing that the excessive amount appeared intended to keep his client in custody.
Meanwhile, counsel for the second accused, Khairil Azmi Mohd Hasbie, said his client is a long-time Kuching resident, a family man, and has no previous criminal record, making him unlikely to abscond.
The 31-year-old woman was also charged on Wednesday in a separate cheating case involving RM16,000, to which she likewise pleaded not guilty.
To date, four bank employees: two women and two men have been charged in connection with the alleged fraudulent investment scheme. — DayakDaily
