BALIK PULAU: Nine male Chinese nationals have claimed trial to criminal conspiracy related to a love scam.
Ye Binyu, 32, Yang Jie, 34, Xiang Hanghang, 33, Lin Zhixu, 30, Zhang Peng, 30, Huang Shihong, 31, Tan Qiao, 22, Tan Bo, 26, and Li Mingrui, 27, claimed trial when the charge was read out to them in Mandarin before Magistrate Chia Huey Ting here on Tuesday (July 21).
They are accused of acting with common intention to carry out a criminal conspiracy and taking part in it, having agreed among themselves to commit the unlawful deed of deceiving victims in a love scam.
The alleged offence under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and Section 120(B)(1) for criminal conspiracy was committed at 6.10pm on July 1 at a condominium in Persiaran Mahsuri, Sungai Nibong Kecil, Bayan Lepas, in the Southwest District.
If found guilty, they face between one and 10 years' jail, caning and a possible fine.
Deputy public prosecutor Ikmal Affendi Zulkifly urged the court to set bail at RM10,000 for each accused with two sureties.
He also asked that they surrender their passports to the court and regularly report to the nearest police station pending disposal of the case.
Lawyer Ahmad Luthfillah Hadi Ahmad, representing all nine accused, appealed for lower bail.
"They are all Chinese nationals who entered Malaysia as tourists.
"All of them have jobs back home in China and earn between RMB3,000 and RMB5,000 (around RM1,800 to RM3,000) a month," he said.
He said they had modest incomes back home and did not have relatives in Malaysia to post bail.
"We are prepared to provide two Malaysian sureties and all of them are willing to surrender their passports.
"Bail should not be punitive but only be sufficient to ensure their attendance in court," he said.
Ahmad Luthfillah said his clients' willingness to surrender their passports indicated that they would not abscond.
Chia set bail at RM8,000 with two sureties for each accused.
She then ordered all nine accused to surrender their passports to the court and report to the Sungai Nibong police station every Thursday until the case is settled.
She fixed Aug 27 for submission of documents.
All nine posted bail.
