SERIAN: A 56-year-old man was sentenced to 15 months in jail and fined RM2,000 by the Magistrate’s Court here today for cheating an elderly man of RM2,000 under the pretext of needing the money for his sick father in Indonesia.
The accused, Ifong Tingang, from Lachau, Pantu, in Sri Aman, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Razali to a charge under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The court ordered him to serve an additional two months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
Based on the facts of the case, the 68-year-old victim was at a coffee shop in Simunjan Market around 10:00 am on December 17, 2024, when Ifong and his two accomplices approached and joined him at the table.
One of them asked if the victim knew anyone who could operate heavy machinery, and they exchanged phone numbers.
Later, Ifong told the victim he had won a lottery ticket but could not withdraw the prize money as he claimed to be an Indonesian citizen.
He then sought the victim’s help to withdraw the money from a bank in Serian and promised him RM5,000 in return.
The victim, believing the story, followed the accused and his friends in a Perodua Viva to Serian.
Upon arrival, Ifong claimed his father in Indonesia was gravely ill and needed RM2,000 urgently.
Sympathising with him, the victim withdrew RM2,000 of his savings and handed it over.
However, after receiving the money, the accused and his friends abandoned the victim by the roadside and took his mobile phone.
A police report was later lodged, leading to Ifong’s arrest on December 28, 2024, at a house in Matang.
Investigations confirmed that Ifong had deceived the victim, who was able to identify both the suspect and the vehicle used during the incident.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng prosecuted the case, while the accused was unrepresented.
