Jailed – man who printed notes to buy handphone

Kota Kinabalu: A 28-year-old man who printed several fake notes of RM100 on his own and used it to buy a handphone was jailed a total of three years.

Mohd Hafiiz Badri Kadir who pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus, to the first count against him, said he used the fake notes to buy the handphone so that he can sell it back to get money to support his family.

He informed the court that he unable to work during the Conditional Movement Control Order and that he printed the fake notes using his own printer.

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On the first count, Mohd Hafiiz was sentenced to two years’ jail for using six pieces of RM100 fake notes with the serial number BZ0279785 to buy the handphone from one Sim Yon Lin, 22, at 6.13pm on Oct 24 by the roadside in Maya Condominium Likas, here.

The offence  under Section 489B of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and fine, on conviction.

In passing the sentence, the court said that it was a serious offence if the public were to use counterfeit money and subsequently what would happen to the country.

During mitigation, Mohd Hafiiz who was not represented asked for leniency saying that he came from a poor family.

He said that his father is currently sick and two of his siblings are still studying and that he need to pay for their school and college fees, respectively.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mas Izzaty Lokman urged the court to impose a  deterrent sentence on the grounds that the offence is serious which involving RM600 counterfeit bills.

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The court heard that Mohd Hafiiz had texted the complaint through WhatsApp saying that he was interested to buy the handphone that was advertised on Mudah.Com.

They then met the complainant who then handed the handphone after she received the money from Mohd Hafiiz inside an envelope.

Upon checking the money, the complainant found that it was fake and subsequently lodged a police report.

Following the report, Mohd Hafiiz was arrested the next day.

After investigation, the money was confirmed by Bank Negara Malaysia that it was fake.

On the second count, Mohd Hafiiz was sent to prison for another a year by Magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun, for having 10 pieces of fake RM100 bearing with the same serial number.

He committed the offence at a unit in University Apartment here at 5.20pm on Oct 25 this year.

According to Mohd Hafiiz who previously studied at a local university, he only used a drawing paper to print out the fake money.

The court advised Mohd Hafiiz not to repeat the offence.