Kota Kinabalu: A son of a politician was charged in the Special Corruption Court, Wednesday, with two counts of cheating a man of RM49,300 by posing as senior officers of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Self-employed Aries Ryan Phillip Among, 29, who pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga.
On the first count, Aries allegedly cheating Mohd Zaidi Abdullah through WhatsApp by making the latter believe that he was Dato Sri Ahmad Khusairi Yahya, MACC’s Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations), thus inducing the latter to deposit RM8,000 into Maybank Islamic Berhad account under the name of Dzulkhairie Norzain for a contribution of lembu korban (sacrificial cattle).
The offence was allegedly committed at 11.46am on June 24, 2023 at a bungalow at the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters, Kepayan here.
SPONSORED CONTENT RM20bil green steel project: Sabah on its way to adopting green technology, says Hajiji Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah is well on its way to fully adopting the green technology revolution with a RM20 billion green steel project at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip). Read more Aries, on the second count, was accused of cheating the same man through WhatsApp by inducing the latter to believe that he was Tan Sri Azam Baki, MACC Chief Commissioner, inducing the latter to deposit RM27,000 into the Maybank Islamic Berhad account under the name of Mohammad Aimman Rahmat Ali for a contribution to attend a convocation of Azam’s child in Sydney and another RM14,300 into another Maybank Islamic Berhad account under the name of Mohd Ivran Shah for loan purposes.
The offence was allegedly committed at the same place at 11.22am on June 30, 2023.
Each charge is framed under Section 419 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to seven years or fine or both, on conviction.
Aries also claimed trial to two alternative charges of cheating framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to five years or fine or both, on conviction.
The first alternative charge accused Aries of cheating Mohd Zaidi Abdulah through WhatsApp by tricking the latter to deposit RM8,000 into the Maybank Islamic Berhad account under the name of Dzulkhairie Norzain for the contribution of sacrificial cattle at 11.46am on June 24, 2023 in a bungalow of the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters, Kepayan here.
The second alternative charge stated that Aries allegedly cheated the same man through WhatsApp by tricking him to deposit RM27,000 into the Maybank Islamic Berhad account under the name of Mohammad Aimman Rahmat Ali purportedly for contribution to attend Azam child’s convocation in Sydney and and another RM14,300 into another Maybank Islamic Berhad account under the name of Mohd Ivran Shah for loan purposes, at the same place at 11.22am on June 30, 2023.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Izzati Sapifee proposed bail at RM40,000 for both main charges.
Counsel Muhamad Amirul Amin requested for a lower bail amount on the grounds, among others, that he was self-employed earning RM1,500 a month.
Jason set Feb 14 for mention and released the accused on a bail of RM40,000 with RM5,000 deposited in one surety.
The court also granted the prosecution’s application for additional conditions to the bail, namely not to tamper with the prosecution’s witnesses, to report to the MACC office every two months and his passport to be impounded by the court.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.