KULIM: A total of 49 individuals, including eight local men, were brought before the Magistrate's Court here on Tuesday (Oct 20) on charges of carrying out online scam activities.
The eight local men pleaded guilty, while the remaining accused, comprising Indian and Pakistani nationals, including seven women, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Nur Hamizah Mat Shah.
They were jointly charged with carrying out online scam activities at five premises along Jalan Lebuh Bandar in Bandar Putra here at 8pm on Oct 9.
They were charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 120B(1) of the same code, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of up to five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.
The eight who pleaded guilty were Lee Jian, 29; Franky Ooi Zhen Yang, 26; Tan Ka Kien, 35; Lee Wai Yean, 30; Loh Seng Huang, 26; Lee Yi Chyn, 37; Low Kuan How, 41; and Chew Joo Hock, 51.
They were sentenced to a fine of RM5,000 each.
The court also fixed Nov 24 for mention of the cases involving the foreign nationals. No bail was offered.
The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Ain Fadilla Muhammad Fauzi, while all the accused were represented by lawyer Kenny Tan Cheng Yee.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Lee Jian, Loh and Chew were also charged with allowing 17 undocumented immigrants to stay at the same premises at the same time and date.
The three pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, punishable under Section 55E(2) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, they face a fine of between RM5,000 and RM30,000, up to 12 months' imprisonment or both, for each undocumented immigrant found at the premises.
The court allowed RM8,000 bail for each accused and fixed Jan 18 next year for case mention. – Bernama
