SIBU: A 31-year-old man was fined RM10,000, in default one year’s imprisonment, by the Magistrates’ Court here for illegally receiving RM3,000 into his bank account.
Mohammad Zulkiffli Narudin, from Kampung Pinang Jawa, Kuching, understood the nature of the amended charge read and explained to him through an interpreter, including the consequences of maintaining his guilty plea.
Magistrate Romario Jonoi convicted him based on his own plea of guilt.
The charge stated that Zulkiffli had, without lawful purpose, indirectly engaged in a transaction involving RM3,000 using his bank account.
The funds were transferred by Susana Sia Sing at a house along Jalan Wawasan on June 8 at about 4.20pm.
He was charged under Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than 10 years, or a fine of not less than RM10,000 and not more than RM150,000, or both.
According to the case facts, the complainant, Susana, was browsing Instagram when she engaged in a conversation with an individual via WhatsApp.
On June 8, around 4.20pm, the contact offered her part-time online work and asked her to download an application called “coupang.s.”
She was told she would be appointed as an agent and assigned tasks through the app. Upon completing each task, she would earn a commission of 0.1 per cent.
She agreed and received a RM330 commission on her first task without needing to transfer any money. However, for subsequent tasks, she was asked to make money transfers but never received the promised commission.
She made three online transfers. Her contact later claimed the money could not be returned because the tasks were incomplete and continued requesting more money.
Suspecting fraud, Susana lodged a police report.
Investigations revealed that the accused had allowed his bank account to be used to receive the complainant’s money for a fictitious investment scheme.
The case was prosecuted by Inspector Kumarewaran Murugan. The accused was unrepresented.
