Housewife denies cheating charges

KOTA KINABALU: A housewife claimed trial in the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday to two charges of cheating.

Zieverlia Simon, 22, who appeared before magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun, was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

The indictment carries a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping or with a fine, upon conviction.

The two charges alleged the accused of deceiving two victims over the management of cell phones purchase via pr e-order and induced them to bank into the accused’s account RM1,640 and IPOH: Police are tracking down several suspects, including a “Datuk”, for alleged cheating by illegally selling state land through social media.

Perak commercial crime chief Supt Lee Ewe Kiang said police had received two reports from the Perak Agricultural Development Corporation (PADC) on the matter.

“In the first report, we found that part of a 42ha piece of land belonging to PADC in Ulu Bernam, Muallim, has been encroached into and cleared.

“Initial investigations showed that a villager was given a ‘written permit’ by the suspects to clear the land, and he has planted some oil palm there,” said Supt Lee in a statement on Monday.

“We will also be checking with the Muallim Land Office on the current status of the land,” he added.

Supt Lee said police were responding to a statement made by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir on May 20 which was published on a news portal on encroachment and illegal clearing of land.

The case, he said, would be investigated under Section 447/448 of the Penal Code.

In the second report, Supt Lee said a syndicate was found to have advertised on Facebook to sell six pieces of land totalling 121ha at Ladang Sayong Bekor, Senggang, Kuala Kangsar, for RM6.6 million.

“The syndicate even published fake documents, including a ‘land grant’ from the Kuala Kangsar district and land offices.

“The land also belongs to PADC. It was never meant to be sold,” he said.

Supt Lee said the matter would be investigated under Section 420/511 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

“We have also asked the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to block the advertisement,” he said.

Supt Lee advised the people not to be fooled by such tactics.

“Prior to buying anything on social media, please seek clarification from relevant agencies,” he said. RM2,300, respectively.

The alleged offences took place at a bank branch in Kolombong, Inanam and Taman Fu Yen in Luyang on October 10, 2016 and November 15, 2016, respectively.

The court fixed June 9 for the case management and released the accused on a bail of RM2,200 for both the charges, pending disposal of the case.

In a separate case, a woman was fined RM1,000, in default, seven days’ jail for playing a gambling game named ‘Wah Hui’.

Rosliah Rosnin, 22, admitted to gambling at a building near a supermarket in Putatan on May 2.

She was convicted under Section 7 (2) of the Common Gambling House which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to six months, or both, upon conviction.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Mohd Rasydan Jasni told the court that during the arrest, the police found several items in the accused’s possession such as papers printed wirh numbers and alphabets and four pieces of papers written with riddles.

Datuk among suspects sought over illegal land sale