KUCHING: The Sessions Court here sentenced two foreigners to two years in prison each for possessing counterfeit banknotes amounting to RM138,920.
Wawan Riduanto, 31, a farmer, and Emi Diansari, 37, a cook, each pleaded guilty before Judge Musli Abdul Hamid to one charge under Section 489C of the Penal Code, read together with Section 109 and Section 34 of the same Code.
Upon conviction, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
According to the charge sheet, Wawan and Emi, together with two others, were found in possession of 1,200 counterfeit RM100 notes, 240 counterfeit RM50 notes, 296 counterfeit RM20 notes, and 100 counterfeit RM10 notes.
They committed the offence at Jalan Tebedu-Serian at around 4:45 pm on October 8.
Meanwhile, the other two individuals – Hendra, 32, an Indonesian, and Abang Mohammad Firdaus, 29, a local delivery worker – pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
The court allowed Mohammad Firdaus to be released on RM20,000 cash bail with two local sureties who have fixed addresses and employment in Sarawak.
Hendra, who works as a labourer, will remain in Puncak Borneo Prison pending disposal of the case.
The court fixed November 13 for case management for Firdaus and Hendra, who are represented by counsel, Patrick Voon.
According to the case facts, a police team stopped two men – Firdaus and Wawan – who were riding a motorcycle suspiciously along the roadside heading toward the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
Upon questioning, the pair revealed they were on their way to meet their friend, Hendra, in a nearby forested area.
Police were led to the location, where they found Hendra sitting and holding a dark blue and red bag. Checks found several suspected counterfeit Malaysian banknotes inside.
All three suspects, together with a woman later identified as Emi, were arrested to facilitate investigations.
Further investigations confirmed that the group possessed counterfeit banknotes of various denominations totalling RM138,920.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors, Ruvinasini Pandian and Asmawi Nur Haqim Mokhtar, while Wawan and Emi were unrepresented.
