Ex-property Agent Fined RM23,000 For My Home Housing Scheme Fraud

BUTTERWORTH, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- A former property agent was fined RM23,000 at the Sessions Court here today, on five counts of defrauding an individual who intended to buy a house under the My Home Housing Scheme.

Judge Zulhazmi Abdullah imposed the sentence on A. Thirumurthi, 45, after he pleaded guilty to all charges read out to him and ordered him to serve 19 months in prison if he failed to pay the fine.

Thirumurthi admitted deceiving G. Muralidaran, 32, by claiming that he was involved in the sale of a house unit under the My Home Housing Scheme by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) worth RM198,000.

Following this, Muralidaran deposited RM7,393.60 through five transactions into Thirumurthi's bank account because he believed the false claims at a bank branch in Bertam, near here, between Sept 24, 2022 and Oct 31, 2022.

The five charges were brought under Section 417 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum prison sentence of five years or a fine or both, if convicted.

The case was handled by MACC deputy public prosecutors Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Muhammad Syahmi Mohd Sanusi, while Thirumurthi was not represented.

Noor Azura requested the court to impose a lesson-based sentence since the offence committed was serious.

However, Thirumurthi appealed for a minimum fine on the grounds that he currently works as an e-hailing driver with an income of less than RM2,000 a month, besides having to support his mother, wife and three children and suffering from several illnesses including heart problems.

Zulhazmi then sentenced him to a fine of RM8,000 or six months' imprisonment if he failed to pay for the first charge, a fine of RM3,000 or three months' imprisonment for the second charge, a fine of RM5,000 or four months' imprisonment respectively for the third and fourth charges and a fine of RM2,000 or two months' imprisonment for the fifth charge.

-- BERNAMA