Cambodian jobs scam suspect claims trial to 2 counts of cheating
KUCHING: The sixth suspect in a jobs scam which saw 47 Malaysians, including 40 Sarawakians, land in a Cambodian prison, was charged in court here yesterday with two counts of cheating.
Mohd Ghafar Abdul Jamal, 25, from Kampung Salak here, pleaded not guilty to one count under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 417 of the same code, before Magistrate Nuruhuda Mohd Yusof who fixed May 29 for pretrial case management.
The court granted the accused cash bail of RM5,000 with two local sureties, and ordered him to surrender his passport until disposal of the case.
Mohd Ghafar was then brought to another magistrate’s court where he claimed trial to a second cheating charge, also under Section 415(b) of the Penal Code.
Magistrate Mohd Syukri Mokhtar allowed the accused bail of RM3,000 with two local sureties, and set June 13 for pretrial case management.
The accused was also ordered to report to the nearest police station every fortnightly.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison or a fine, or both, for each charge.
The accused was represented by lawyer Fadzillah Osman.
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department head Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said Mohd Ghafar is believed to have acted as a local facilitator in the jobs scam syndicate.
He said the accused was arrested on April 25 upon arriving at Kuching International Airport from Pontianak, Indonesia.