KOTA KINABALU: A man with ‘Datuk Seri’ title was charged at the Magistrate Court here with cheating an Indonesian woman early this year.
Saad Ani, 65, pleaded not guilty for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The charge was read to him before Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie.
The charge carries imprisonment of not less than a year and not more than 10 years, whipping, and shall also be liable to a fine, if convicted.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Suzie @ Stephanie Kupit had asked the court to impose RM5,000 bail with two local sureties against the accused.
When asked whether he had anything to say about the bail, Saad nonchalantly responded with a no.
Stephanie then allowed the RM5,000 bail and fixed April 3 for case management. Saad was unrepresented.
According to the charge sheet, Saad had on January 3 deceive one Dina Kairupan, who holds a valid Indonesian passport, into obtaining a SR Card from a company – Syarikat SR Manpower Resources Sdn Bhd – belonging to the accused.
The woman handed over RM580 to the accused, believing his story.
Meanwhile outside the court, relatives of the Datuk Seri were seen scolding reporters and photographers as they took pictures of the accused being whisked out of the courtroom.
The accused's relatives also took pictures of the pressmen and threatened to post them on Facebook as well to sue the media.