KUALA LUMPUR: After 16 years, a man was finally charged with cheating a friend by issuing a RM500,000 cheque in purported investment returns from a bank account that was closed.
Ch’ng Kee Guan (pic), 74, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court yesterday to cheating businessman Chang Seng Kooi, 53, for the repayment sum which was related to a health food investment.
He allegedly committed the offence at Wisma Zelan in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, here on March 2, 2008.
He made his plea after the charge was read out to him before judge Hamidah Mohamed Deril.
Ch’ng was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a minimum one-year imprisonment and maximum 10-year imprisonment with whipping and liable for a fine, upon conviction.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Raihanah Abd Razak offered bail at RM100,000 in one surety.
Lawyer Manjit Singh, who represented the accused, sought a lower amount on grounds that his client was jobless.
He said Ch’ng had health issues including diabetes, heart problems and blurry eye sight, adding that his client had also suffered a fall down some stairs two weeks ago.
The judge fixed bail at RM10,000 in one surety. The case is fixed for mention on Nov 27.
