Newlywed, groomsman fined RM10,000 each in online investment scam case in Sri Aman

KUCHING (Feb 6): Just two weeks into his marriage, a man was fined RM10,000, in default 10-month imprisonment, by the Sri Aman Magistrates’ Court for indirectly engaging in an unlawful money transaction involving a total of RM12,750 from a 31-year-old man.

The newlywed, Daniel Hamizi Hamdan, 21, was convicted today to a charge under Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code.

He and his groomsman Mohd Suffian Ahmad Man, 26, had pleaded guilty before Judge Intan Nurul Farena Zainal Abidin – the latter was also imposed fine of the same amount.

The Section carries a penalty of three to 10-year imprisonment, and a fine of RM10,000 to RM150,000, or both, upon conviction.

Both men were accused of committing the offence at a premises on Jalan Kejatau on March 3 last year.

According to facts of the case, the victim received a link via Telegram on March 2 and interacted with a supposed company representative who instructed him to transfer RM200 into several bank accounts, in return for a promised 30 per cent return on sales.

Interested in the investment, the victim transferred RM3,950 to Mohd Suffian’s account at around 3.38pm, and another RM8,800 to Daniel’s account at 5.58pm the following day.

When the victim inquired about the promised returns, he was asked to transfer more funds.

Suspecting fraud, he lodged a police report.

Daniel and Mohd Suffian were later identified as the owners of the bank accounts, and apprehended.

During investigation, both failed to explain how the funds were transferred into their accounts and thus, they were found negligent in safeguarding their bank account information.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Farhan Mohd Pauzi appeared for the prosecution, while both accused were unrepresented.