BUTTERWORTH: A former company owner was charged at the Sessions Court here today with two counts of cheating six years ago.
Amran Peaid, 56, claimed trial to both charges before Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah.
On the first count, Amran is alleged to have cheated one Abdul Manan Naina Mohamed, 49, into believing that he could use legal services to settle a drug charge in court for another individual, which prompted Abdul Manan to transfer RM5,000 into a third person's account, at the CIMB Bank branch in Prima Tanjung, Jalan Fettes on Sept 20, 2018.
On the second count, Amran is alleged to have cheated Abdul Manan into believing that he could use legal services to settle a drug charge in court for another individual, which prompted Abdul Manan to transfer RM3,000 into a third person's account, at the CIMB Bank branch in Prima Tanjung, Jalan Fettes on Sept 30, 2018.
The charges were framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries five years imprisonment or fine or both, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Rehab Abdul Shukur said, since Amran claimed trial to both charges, the prosecution proposed bail to be set at RM5,000 for each of the charges, bringing the total to RM10,000.
"We also urged the court to impose two additional conditions.
"Firstly, for the accused to surrender his passport to the court, and secondly, for him to report to the nearest MACC office once every month," she said.
Amran, through his counsel, K. Mahendran, pleaded for a minimum bail.
He said his client, who is jobless now, has a 7-year-old child to support and is suffering from a heart illness.
"The case has been investigated since 2020 and my client has been released on RM4,000 bail.
"Since then, he has been very cooperative and even presented himself in court to face charges today.
"The accused also promised to adhere to the conditions," he added.
Zulhazmi then set bail at RM5,000 for each of the charges with one surety and fixed March 25 for mention.
He also imposed the two additional conditions.