Kota Kinabalu mechanic faces trial over misappropriation of woman’s money

KOTA KINABALU (March 9): A mechanic has claimed trial in the Magistrates’ Court here to misappropriation of a woman’s money.

The 52-year-old man, who appeared before Magistrate Wan Farrah Farriza Wan Ghazali, was charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code.

The Section provides for a jail term of up to five years and caning as well as a possible fine upon conviction.

He was alleged to have misused RM1,200 belonging to a 54-year-old woman.

The offence allegedly took place at the branch of a bank in Penampang last year between Nov 19 and Dec 17.

Wan Farrah fixed May 7 for pre-trial case management and released the accused on RM2,000 bail with two local sureties.

Deputy public prosecutor Akaash Singh appeared for the prosecution while the accused was unrepresented.

In an unrelated case, the Magistrates’ Court here fined a man RM1,300 in default three months’ imprisonment for gambling.

Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus convicted Giovanni Kim Keon on his own guilty plea to a charge under Section 7 (2) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953.

The Section provides for a fine of not more than RM5,000, or a jail term of up to six years, or both upon conviction.

The offence was committed at a premises in Penampang on Nov 14, 2025.

Insp Mohamad Hamidi Mohamad Hamzah prosecuted the case while Giovanni did not have legal representation.