Cambodian job scam: Court sets June 24-28 for case hearing

KUCHING: The magistrates’ court has fixed this June 24 to 28 for the hearing of one of the cases related to the recent Cambodian job scam.

Chang Ying Shiong, a 24 -yearold cook, yesterday claimed trial to a charge of cheating. He was alleged to have offered fellow cook Chong Jun Kong at Batu Kawah New Township a non- existent job as a chef in Cambodia last October.

Magistrate Faelly Jeffery Lanjungan yesterday released Chang on RM10,000 bail with two local sureties, pending the hearing date.

Chang is among three persons wanted by police in connection with the case.

The second suspect has been released on police bail due to ill health, while the third suspect is still at large.

Chang was nabbed on March 3 at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce here and subsequently, was placed under remand up until yesterday.

He is charged under Section 415( b) of the Penal Code, which is punishable under Section 417 of the same Code, which carries a maximum five years’ jail, or a fine, or both. DPP Merylene Lindan Andrew Mang appeared for the prosecution.

Chong was among the 47 Malaysians jailed in Cambodia on suspicion of being involved in illegal online gambling activities.

These Malaysians, who included 40 Sarawakians, had been in Cambodia since December after applying for what appeared to be lucrative and decent jobs via social media, between October and November last year.

They had also deposited cash into a local bank account for these job applications.

The detainees were released from the Banteay Meanchey provincial prison last month, following a collaborative effort between the federal and Sarawak governments to negotiate with the Cambodian government.