Man claims trial to cheating via nonexistent investment scheme

SEREMBAN: A 33-year-old man claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court here on Friday (Oct 28) to a cheating charge for promoting a nonexistent investment scheme.

Shawn Lee Kim Boon pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Magistrate Norzaliza Tesmin.

He was accused of being part of a criminal conspiracy to deceive others via WhatsApp to invest in Vanguard Investment, which he alleged was a legitimate scheme.

He was said to have committed the offence at around 10pm on Nov 13 last year at an apartment unit in Nilai.

Lee was charged under Section 415 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 120(B) of the same legislation.

Offenders can be jailed up to six months or fined or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Muhaimin Mohd Azman then asked the court to set bail at RM7,000.

However, defence counsel Alvin Tan asked for lower bail as Lee was the family's sole breadwinner until his arrest on Oct 4.

Tan said apart from his wife and young daughter, the accused also had to provide for his 65-year-old physically challenged mother, who is a stroke patient.

Norzaliza then set bail at RM2,500 with one surety and fixed Nov 11 for mention.