Woman acquitted of cheating senior citizen

KOTA KINABALU: The Magistrate’s Court here on Thursday (June 22) acquitted a woman of cheating an elderly woman out of RM895,000, which was meant to be an investment for the food truck business.

Sylvia Joan Mansul walked out a free woman without the need to enter her defence after being discharged and acquitted of the charge by Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun.

The court held that there was no prima facie case established by the prosecution against the accused, aged 48.

Mansul was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a 10-year maximum jail sentence, whipping and fine on conviction.

She was accused of inducing a 75-year-old woman to part with the cash as capital after making the latter believe she (the accused) was offering an investment opportunity in the food truck business.

Mansul was accused of committing the offence against the woman, then aged 69, at Teck Guan Villa, Mile 3 here at 2pm in September 2016.

The prosecution, which was represented by deputy public prosecutor Dk Afiqah Alya Ak Johari, called seven witnesses to testify during the trial.

Counsel Ram Singh, Kimberly Ye and Chen Wen Jye appeared for the accused.