Restaurant worker pleads not guilty to cheating adopted mother of nearly RM40,000

MELAKA: A 38-year-old restaurant worker claimed trial at the Ayer Keroh Magistrate's Court for impersonating a Bank Negara staff to convince her adopted mother to hand over nearly RM40,000.

The plea of Norhana Adam was recorded before Magistrate Khairunnisak Hassni on Wednesday (July 10).

According to the charge sheet, the accused was alleged to have deceived Latipah Abdul Rahman, 64, by impersonating a Bank Negara staff to request processing fees for loans purportedly undertaken by the accused.

This led the victim to make payments totalling RM39,450 through 19 transactions into the accused's bank account.

The offence was allegedly committed at a residential unit in Kampung Alai, Melaka, between Nov 16, 2020 and Feb 9, 2021.

The charge was framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Wardah Ishhar proposed bail of RM20,000.

Norhana, represented by lawyer Muhammad Izzuddin Ab Malek from the National Legal Aid Foundation, appealed for a lower bail, citing that the accused is a divorcee and earns RM40 per day as a restaurant worker.

The court set bail of RM5,000 in one surety and fixed Aug 19 for next mention.