Businessman charged with cheating involving RM940k in JB

JOHOR BARU: A 39-year-old businessman has been charged in a magistrate's court here with 94 counts of cheating involving approximately RM940,000.

Muhamad Dhiauddin Hassan pleaded not guilty after the charges were read in front of magistrate Rashidah Baharom on Thursday (Nov 21).

According to the charge sheet, Dhiauddin cheated some 94 victims, by claiming to be the representative of a law firm that could help with applications for affordable housing in Johor, including PR1MA and RMMJ (Rumah Mampu Milik Johor).

He allegedly committed the offences at four different locations including Nusa Bestari in Iskandar Puteri as well as at Setia Tropika, Setia Indah and Taman Molek in Johor Baru between February and August of last year.

Victims were conned into depositing about RM5,000 to RM10,000 into his bank account.

He was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, which carries imprisonment between one and 10 years, whipping and fine upon conviction

The magistrate allowed bail at RM35,000 with one surety and fixed Dec 22 for case mention.

Dhiauddin is also required to hand over his passport and to report to the nearest police station once a month until the case is over.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutors M. Pusppa and Benedict Choong while the Dhiauddin was represented by lawyers Hafez Zulkapli, Mazri Muhammad and Nur Helmi A. Halim.