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SHAH ALAM – Two men pleaded not guilty in the magistrates’ court here today to a charge of cheating an individual into handing over RM140,000 for a fake “Datuk Seri” title.
Rohaized Abd Razak, 49, and Shahferoz Khan Mohamed Ayub Khan, 35, are jointly charged with cheating a 58-year-old man into paying them to obtain the non-existent title.
They were charged with committing the offence at a restaurant in a shopping centre in Petaling district between November 10 and December 10 last year.
The charge, framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same law, provides for up to 10 years’ jail, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Magistrate Mohamad Redza Azhar Rezali allowed both accused bail of RM9,000 with one surety each and set May 23 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Farah Sofea Norazman prosecuted, while lawyers Hazwan Hassan and Datuk Seri Rajan Navaratnam represented Rohaized and Shahferoz Khan, respectively.
Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan in a statement today said the two men were arrested over the alleged offence in raids conducted in Melaka and Selangor last March 15 and 17.
The raids were carried out following a report lodged by the victim who claimed to have made a deal to receive the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor award, which carries the “Datuk Seri” title, by making an RM600,000 donation.
“To convince the victim, the suspect handed over a letter supposedly issued by the Selangor palace to confer the award,” said Hussein.
He said the victim realised something was amiss when his name was not on the list of individuals to receive the award and subsequently lodged a police report. – Bernama, March 21, 2023