Businessman charged with conferring fake Kelantan titles
PETALING JAYA: A businessman has been brought to the Sessions Court here over charges that he claimed to represent the Kelantanese royal family and even issued watikah (appointment letters) conferring “datuk” titles.
Tengku Iskandar Tengku Ahmad, 71, was accused of using the title “Yang Maha Mulia” in an appointment letter dated Aug 7, 2013, with out the express permission of the Sultan of Kelantan.
He faces a second charge of falsely acting on behalf of the royal family of DYMM Long Yunus by having an emblem of Persatuan Kerabat DiRaja DYMM Long Yunus Negeri Kelantan (Long Yunus Association) on the appointment letter.
This was despite the fact that the association was deregistered by the Kelantan Registrar of Societies on Feb 11, 2011.
According to the charge sheet, the appointment letter given to businessman Kok Wai Peng, 53, carries the rank Seri Panglima Perkasa and with it the title Dato’ Seri D'Raja.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between 5pm and 11pm on Aug 7, 2013 at Istana Dusun Green in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
For the first offence, he was charged under Section 3(1)(a) of the Kelantan Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Enactment 1977 which is punishable by up to a RM1,000 fine. For the second charge, under Section 48(1) of the Societies Act 1966, he is punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of RM15,000 or both.
Defence counsel Joshua Sambanthan applied for the case to be transferred to Kelantan, as the offences were alleged to have been committed there. Judge Mohamed Mokhzani Mokhtar denied the application after the objection from the Deputy Public Prosecutor.
He set bail at RM3,000 and fixed Sept 25 for next mention.