Two admit to accepting stolen money

KUANTAN: A tile shop worker and a 71-year-old retiree pleaded guilty to receiving stolen money through their bank accounts in an alleged Nigerian scam.

Tee Chiu Hang, 29, admitted to accepting RM148,490 between April 21, 2017 and June 12, 2017, even though she had reason to believe it was stolen.

During the court proceedings, Tee told magistrate Nurunaim Abdullah she befriended two Nigerian men through Facebook for three years.

“They asked for my help, so I handed them my ATM card,” she said.

Nurunaim fined Tee RM4,000 in default five months’ jail.

In another magistrate’s court, retired assistant nurse Shaarani Mohd Abas was charged with accepting RM3,500 in her bank account between Sept 2 and Sept 4 with reason to believe the money was stolen.

According to the facts of the case, Shaarani handed her ATM card to a man she befriended through Facebook.

Magistrate Nor Azizah Aling released Shaarani on a good behaviour bond for two years.

Meanwhile, Nigerian students Egwuasu Bernard Nnaemeka and Egwuasu Chimiezie Benjamin, both 32, claimed trial to criminal conspiracy to commit fraud.

The cousins pleaded not guilty to cheating Nor Faizah Othman, 48, of RM148,490 by deceiving her into believing they would send her valuables.

They also claimed trial in another magistrate’s court here to have cheated Syazwani Othman, 18, of RM3,500 by conning her into believing they would buy her a motorcycle.

No bail was extended to the two Nigerians as the court needed to determine the validity of their passports.

Their cases have been fixed for mention on Nov 23.