Kota Kinabalu: A 44-year-old freelance broker was charged with seven counts of cheating a 66-year-old woman of RM81,500 in connection with a land deal in Tambunan.
Herman Stephen pleaded not guilty to all seven charges before Sessions Court Judges Monica Linsua and Zaini Fishir.
Herman is accused of deceiving the woman into believing he could obtain an NT land in Kampung Rompon, Tambunan, and fraudulently inducing her to hand over money to him.
The woman allegedly paid Herman RM5,000, RM1,000, RM3,000, RM45,000, RM15,000, RM2,500 and RM10,000 between Nov 23 and Dec 5, 2025, at an apartment in Jalan Sulaman, Manggatal.
The charges were brought under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
The court fixed Oct 29 for mention of all seven cases.
Herman was released on RM14,500 bail in two local sureties.
He was also ordered to report to the nearest police station once a month, surrender his passport, if any, to the court and refrain from contacting or interfering with prosecution witnesses.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir and Mohd Fadzri Azham appeared for the prosecution, while counsel Lim Ming Zoong represented Herman.
