Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old businessman was on Wednesday jailed seven days and fined RM4,000 or 12 months’ jail for cheating a hotel here.
Wan Muhammad Syazwan Wan Jodan of Kuching, Sarawak pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to submitting an invalid online banking receipt with the intention of cheating the Promenade Hotel Sdn Bhd between July 11 and July 27, this year.
The charge under Section 417 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to five years or fine or both, on conviction.
The court was informed by the prosecution that a hotel guest named Wan Muhammad Syazwan Wan Jodan had booked a room at the hotel from July 8 until 28 and that according to him, all payments would be made online and the payment receipt given to the hotel staff.
SPONSORED CONTENT Daily Express members: Enjoy 1 for 1 signature cocktails and more at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu: DAILY EXPRESS is partnering with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to offer an exclusive deal for our members. Read more On July 29, the hotel checked the room and found that Syazwan had left without their knowledge.
The hotel also made a check on the hotel’s bank account and found that no payment was made by Syazwan as per the payment receipt given by him.
A phone call was made but could not reach Syazwan, said the prosecution.
The hotel found that Syazwan had cheated by giving a fake payment receipt and lodged a police report.
Counsel Carmen Khoo, representing Syazwan, requested for lenient sentence and told the court that he was a first offender and was remorseful of his action.
The prosecution applied for an adequate sentence.
Meanwhile, six people were charged with assaulting a man.
Wan Nurhafizan Wan Suhaimy, 32, Wan Hijjaz Wan Suhaimy, 25, Amir Faiz Abu Bakar, 26, Md Naedry Khan Nattahkhan, 24, Najmi Mazlan and Najiy Mazlan, both 22 pleaded not guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to Muhd Farid Azizi at 12am on May 22 outside a condominium in Penampang.
They were jointly charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code.
The court set Oct 4 for case management and released each accused on a bail of RM1,500 in two sureties.
Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik prosecuted.
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