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By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 18: Three former employees of a national bank’s Kuching branch were once again brought before the Sessions Court on Tuesday (March 17) to face multiple charges linked to an alleged non-existent investment scheme.
The accused, a 28-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman, and a 55-year-old woman, all pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out before Sessions Court Judge Iris Awen Jon.
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Each of the three was granted bail of RM5,000 with one surety, and the court set April 9 for the next mention of the case.
The 28-year-old woman was represented by counsel Datuk Shankar Ram.
According to the charges, the 28-year-old woman allegedly deceived a 34-year-old man into investing RM6,000 in the purported scheme at the Simpang Tiga bank branch in Kuching on Jan 17, 2024. She was also accused of cheating a 39-year-old man of RM54,000 on Aug 13, 2025.
In addition, she allegedly misled a 56-year-old man into making several payments totalling RM130,000 on March 11, 2025. The same victim subsequently transferred RM210,000 on March 22 and another RM100,000 on March 26 that year.
These charges were framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
She also faces multiple criminal breach of trust charges under Section 405 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 409, for allegedly misappropriating investment funds entrusted to her during her tenure as the bank branch’s takaful consultant.
Among the allegations, she is accused of dishonestly misusing RM54,000 belonging to the 39-year-old victim on Aug 13, 2025. She is also alleged to have breached trust involving a 68-year-old man and his 62-year-old wife, who collectively lost RM27,000 investing on behalf of their son on June 25, 2025. Another charge involves an alleged breach of trust of RM150,000 belonging to a 62-year-old woman in 2024.
If convicted under Section 409 of the Penal Code, an offender faces imprisonment of two to 20 years, and may also be liable to whipping and a fine.
Meanwhile, all three accused were jointly charged under Section 420 for allegedly cheating a 46-year-old woman of RM50,000 on Sept 22, 2025, and another 62-year-old woman of RM50,000 on Aug 5, 2025.
During proceedings, Shankar applied for all related cases to be consolidated and heard before the same Sessions Court, highlighting that the cases involve more than 60 victims and numerous charges. He argued that consolidation would help avoid coordination difficulties, confusion over trial dates, and potential delays. — DayakDaily
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