KUCHING: A 39-year-old former relationship manager of a local bank was sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment and fined RM40 million by the Sessions Court here on Wednesday after pleading guilty to 24 charges of cheating and money laundering involving more than RM1.5 million.
Kho Yung Kang, who was unrepresented, faced multiple charges across seven separate cases, with all sentences ordered to run concurrently by the court.
All sentences take effect from the date of remand, May 23, 2025, with the money laundering sentences taking effect from the date of conviction, Sept 2.
The accused faced 16 charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, and eight charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), all heard before Judge Iris Awen Jon.
The court heard that Kho, while working as a relationship manager at a bank here, had offered clients a “new investment scheme” promising higher returns.
The accused dishonestly induced victims to withdraw money from their accounts and transfer them to third-party accounts via DuitNow, Interbank GIRO or Cashier’s Order without their actual knowledge or consent. The money was then channelled back to Kho for personal use.
For the cheating charges, Kho was sentenced to between four years imprisonment and one stroke of the rotan for each charge, which brings the total strokes of cane to 16.
For the money laundering charges, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined RM5 million, in default four months imprisonment, for each charge.
The offences were committed between March 2022 and June 2024 at a bank branch here.
According to the facts of the case, the accused had deceived a 61-year-old man into transferring RM150,000 and RM185,000 in a single day, resulting in a total loss of RM335,000 for that victim.
He also cheated a 60-year-old woman of RM100,000 in one transaction and RM79,878.83 in another, bringing her total losses to RM179,878.83.
A 69-year-old male victim was cheated of RM98,154.70, RM69,727.95 and RM64,810.00 across multiple transactions, totalling RM232,692.65 in losses.
A 72-year-old woman lost RM101,500 in a single transaction, while a 63-year-old man lost RM100,000 in one instance and RM102,000 in another.
Another 72-year-old male victim lost RM95,000, followed by RM50,000 in a subsequent transaction.
A 74-year-old woman was cheated of RM91,800, while a 70-year-old man lost RM98,600 and subsequently RM100,000 in separate incidents.
The total losses from all cheating and money laundering cases exceeded RM1.58 million.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Chuah Kai Sheng and Maryam Jamielah Abdul Manaff prosecuted. The money laundering case was investigated by Superintendent Seah Chong Seng and Inspector Jeniffer Kon Tze Ee.
