17 Chinese Nationals Charged With Online Scam, Gambling In Ipoh

IPOH, June 5 (Bernama) -- Seventeen Chinese nationals pleaded not guilty in the Magistrates' Court here today to charges involving online scam operations and promoting online gambling.

Among the accused, 11 men and two women were jointly charged with criminal conspiracy to commit cheating by offering non-existent debt settlements online.

The offence is alleged to have been committed at a house at No 1, Bercham Permai 10, at approximately 4.30 pm on May 17.

The charge was framed under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 417 of the same Code, which provides for a prison sentence of up to five years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.

In the same court, four other Chinese men were charged with criminal conspiracy to promote online gambling at premises at No 9, Bercham Permai 7, at approximately 3.30 pm on May 18.

The charge was preferred under Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, read together with Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction.

Magistrate Norizan Riduan ordered that no bail be granted to the 13 accused in the cheating case.

For the gambling case, the court allowed bail for the four accused at RM5,000 each with two local sureties, and ordered them to report to the nearest police station.

The court fixed June 24 for the submission of documents and mention of the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Zarris Sofea Zainudin and prosecuting officer Inspector G. Nanthakumar appeared for the prosecution, while all the accused were represented by lawyer Nur Fazliana Mohamad Fisol.

-- BERNAMA