Duo deny cheating with marriage and birth certs

KOTA KINABALU: A single mother and a self-employed man claimed trial in the Magistrate's Court here yesterday to separate charges of cheating a man involving a total of RM12,500 as payments to process marriage and birth certificates last year.

Rafiah Ahmad, 62, and Azman @ Abdul Ramin Kunji, 62, who appeared before magistrate Jessica Ombou Kakayun, were charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

The charge carries a jail term of up to 10 years and whipping and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

Rafiah allegedly deceived the 30-year-old victim into transferring RM10,500 to her bank account for the purpose of processing Surat Perakuan Nikah at a restaurant here on February 5, 2020.

Meanwhile, Azman was accused of deceiving the same victim by making the victim to transfer RM2,000 to Azman's bank account for the purpose of processing the birth certificate at Wisma MUIS here on July 2, 2020.

The court fixed March 3 and 17 for the case managements of both the accused persons respectively, who were marriage consultants when they committed the alleged offences.

The duo, who was represented by National Legal Aid Foundation counsel Lim Ming Zoong @ Lawrence, prayed for a lower bail to be granted on each of them.

The counsel also submitted that Rafiah is a single mom with three kids while Azman is married and has six kids.

The court released Rafiah on a bail of RM3, 000 and Azman was granted RM2, 000 both with two local sureties each.