JOHOR BARU: Seven males, including a youth, have been charged at the Magistrates’ Court here for operating a fraudulent online investment scheme.
Six of the accused – Choo Weng Seng, 39; Tan Chun Leong, 41; Sky Chang Ji Shiang, 20; Yap Wai Xien, 20; Ryan Wong Wor Yew, 24; and Wess Lee Von Kim, 19 – pleaded guilty before Magistrate Hidayatul Syuhada Shamsudin after the charges were read out on Tuesday (Jan 21).
However, a 17-year-old youth claimed trial to the offence.
According to the charge sheet, all the accused were part of a criminal conspiracy to commit an unlawful act. They were charged with carrying out an online investment scam, an offence under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The alleged offence occurred at a premises on Jalan Ekoflora 5/21, Taman Ekoflora, Johor Baru, at around 3pm on Jan 13 this year.
The accused were charged under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Act, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of six months, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
As for the 17-year-old, if convicted, the court may impose a warning, a good behaviour bond with conditions, a fine, community service, or placement in an approved school or Henry Gurney School.
Hidayatul Syuhada set March 6 for the sentencing, pending the submission of documents and a behaviour report from the Welfare Department.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Noratini Nik Azman prosecuted the case, while lawyer Dahlia Tan represented all the accused.
Meanwhile, nine individuals, including a woman, were charged at the Kota Tinggi Magistrates’ Court for offering non-existent employment opportunities.
Lee Kok Hong, 28; Alvin Loh Kar Xuan, 20; Tristan Wong Yong Jing, 22; Liow Jia Wei, 21; Teng Kai Wen, 20; Ernest Koh Boyuen, 23; Chin Jun Soon, 20; Koh Zhi Yu, 24; and Stella Teo Kai Ting, 20, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Nurkhalida Farhana Abu Bakar.
The accused, who worked as customer service operators offering fake job opportunities online, were charged under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code for criminal conspiracy.
The offence took place at a premises in Taman Desaru Utama, Bandar Penawar, at around 5pm on Jan 16 this year.
Nurkhalida Farhana imposed a fine of RM7,000 on each of the accused, with a default sentence of four months’ imprisonment.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Foo Fong Leong prosecuted, while lawyers Tan Hik Tao and G. Neshalie represented the accused.