GE15 candidate for Jelapang slapped with 77 cheating charges

Halimah being led into the Taiping Magistrate's Court.

TAIPING: A 15th General Election candidate for the Jelapang state seat in Perak has been slapped with 77 counts of cheating two principals and two teachers in relation to land and property matters in Taiping.

In the first 38 charges, Hamidah Muhamad, 47, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Magistrate R Prabakaran at the Taiping Magistrate's Court here Friday (June 23)

According to the charge sheet, she was said to have committed the offences between 2021 and last year against Efendi Zainuddin, Razhiyah Salleh, Robiah Salleh and Faridah Salleh.

Razhiyah, Robiah and Faridah Salleh are siblings.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, which provides a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.

It took nearly an hour for the charges to be read in the courtroom.

Prosecuting officer Khoo Thean Heng asked for bail to be denied in view of the huge amount of losses involved.

“We believed that the losses were more than RM200,000 and we hope the court can consider (not granting) bail,” he said.

Lawyer S Ingaradivel, who represented Hamidah, hoped the court would consider bail due to her health.

“My client, who is a housewife, is currently receiving medical treatment for her heart condition at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

“She is also suffering from brain and bone (spine) cancers. She has to take 32 types of pills for her health.

“Therefore, I hope the court would consider setting bail at the lowest rate possible with terms and conditions,” he said, adding that documents proving Hamidah’s condition would be submitted soon.

Prabakaran set bail at RM12,000 with two sureties and ordered Hamidah to hand in her passport, which will be kept until the case has been settled.

He also fixed mention for July 31.

In GE15, Hamidah, who was the Taiping Parti Makkalsakti Malaysia women’s chief, contested the Jelapang seat on a Barisan Nasional ticket.

She lost to Pakatan Harapan's Cheah Pou Han by a margin of 20,111 votes. Also contesting the seat was S Navinten, who represented PAS for Perikatan Nasional.

In a separate court, Hamidah claimed trial to 39 charges involving more than RM150,000 losses by the same individuals.

Magistrate Nur Atiqah Sapari set bail at RM12,000 with two sureties and her passport will be kept until the case is settled.

She also fixed July 31 for the case mention. DPP Siti Nur Amalina Harun prosecuted.