Makkah hotel investment scam: Businessman charged again

KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman facing charges for fraud in two magistrate’s courts, was charged in the Selayang Magistrate’s Court here yesterday also for fraud, involving investment on hotel room lease in Makkah.

Sheikh Saidey Nor Sheikh Abdul Rahman, 43, also pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was charged with cheating Pauziah Abd Ghani, 61, by dishonestly offering her investment for hotel room lease in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which actually did not exist, hence prompting the woman to deposit RM70,000 into his Bank Islam bank account.

Sheikh Saidey was alleged to have committed the offence at Lot 1 Jalan SG 7/10, Taman Sri Gombak, Batu Caves, Selangor, near here, at 1.10 pm on June 13 last year.

The charge, under Section 420 of the Penal Code, provides an imprisonment for up to 10 years and with whipping, and is also liable to fine, if found guilty.

The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Khairul Azhwa Yusrie Mohamad, did not offer bail as the accused wasdetained underthePrevention of Crime Act 2013.

However, Sheikh Saidey, who was unrepresented, asked to be allowed bail as he had been in remand for 90 days.

Magistrate Iriane Isabelo then allowed Sheikh Saidey bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

She also ordered Sheikh Saidey to surrender his passport to the court.

The court set Feb 16 for mention.

Yesterday, Sheikh Saidey pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court to a similar charge, involving RM324,300.

Last Tuesday, Sheikh Saidey pleaded not guilty in the Johor Bahru Magistrate’e Court to two counts of cheating, involving similar investments in Makkah and Madinah, while his wife was charged with abetting him. — Bernama