Former bank officer claims trial to two cheating charges

KAMPAR: A 43-year-old former bank officer has been charged with two counts of cheating involving non-existent investment schemes that led to losses of more than RM110,000.

M Pathmananthan pleaded not guilty after the charges were read in Tamil before Magistrate A Hafiizh Abu Bakar in court here on Wednesday (July 12).

He was charged 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.

For the first charge, Pathmananthan allegedly deceived 32-year-old S Kogeelan to transfer RM30,000 to his account for an investment scheme at a bank here on March 28.

In the second charge, the accused is said to have cheated 52-year-old M Jessica Mary by leading her into transferring about RM80,600 from her account to his at a bank here between Oct 25, 2021 and Sept 22 last year.

He had allegedly led her into transferring the money by believing in an investment scheme.

Deputy public prosecutor M Esther Jacyntha requested for bail to be set at RM15,000 and RM40,000 respectively for the two cases.

Lawyer Baldip Singh Santokh Singh, who represented Pathmanathan, requested for a lower bail.

“My client is working and stays in Kampar. Bail is to ensure his attendance (in) court.

“Considering where he stays and that the alleged offence was in Kampar, I hope the court would consider setting RM5,000 bail for the first case and RM10,000 for the second,” he said, adding that his client is married with three children.

A Hafiizh then set bail at RM8,000 and RM15,000 with one surety each for the respective cases, and fixed July 26 for mention.