SIK: A trader was charged in the Sessions Court here today with 22 counts of receiving deposits amounting to RM876,375 without a valid licence since last April.
Norsyazwany A Rahim, 23, from Kampung Landak Hilir, Kupang, Baling, pleaded not guilty to all the charges which were read before Judge Najwa Che Mat.
She was alleged to have received deposits from 22 individuals separately amounting to between RM2,500 and RM489,000 each without a valid licence in accordance with Section 10 of the Financial Services Act 2013 (Act 758).
The accused, who is a mother of two, was accused of receiving the deposits at separate locations around Baling district between April 10 and Aug 2.
She was charged under Section 137 (1) of the Financial Services Act 2013 punishable under Section 137 (2) of the same act which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years or a fine of up to RM50 million or both, if convicted.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Ikmal Affandi Zulkifli while the accused was represented by counsel Mohamad Salihen Mastor.
The prosecution offered bail of RM214,000 for all charges.
However, Mohamad Salihen asked for the bail to be reduced since the accused only had a part-time business with an uncertain income.
He suggested bail of RM30,000 to enable the accused to take care of her two children, one aged two years old and the other aged eight months old and still breastfeeding.
The judge then set bail of RM5,000 for each of 21 charges and one charge RM10,000, a total bail of RM115,000 with two sureties.
The court also ordered that the accused report to the nearest police station every month and her international passport to be handed over to the court.
The case will be mentioned on Nov 23.
The accused failed to raise bail and was sent to Pokok Sena Prison.
Mohamad Salihen said his party would file a review application at the Sungai Petani High Court against the bail offered by the Sik Court today.