Duo deny selling fake Malacca awards

Two businessmen were charged in the Ayer Keroh sessions court here yesterday with selling and forging letters conferring fake Malacca state awards and medals.

Both the accused, Tuah Shah Abd Rahman, 48, and Zainal Abu Bakar, 48, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Nariman Badruddin.

Tuah Shah was charged with 10 counts of producing the letters of conferment of state awards and medals without the permission of Malacca chief minister.

The offence was allegedly committed at 49, Batu 9, Kampung Ladang, Krubong here between Sept 7, 2020 and Feb 5, 2021.

The charges were under Section 3(1)(b) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Enactment A21 of the Malacca State Enactment.

Zainal was charged under Section 3(1)(a) of the same enactment with eight counts of using the title “Datuk” without the permission of the Malacca chief minister.

The offence was allegedly committed at 16, Jalan M 12 Taman Merdeka, Batu Berendam here between Feb 3 and Feb 27.

They face a fine of between RM250,000 and RM500,000, or a jail term of up to five years.

The two men also faced two charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law, with cheating Datuk Chong Lian Foo, 59, and Datuk Farid Ibrahim, 49, of RM100,000 each, for the conferment of a state award Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka.

The offence was committed on Oct 2, 2020 and Feb 2 at Maybank Malacca main, Jalan Hang Tuah. – Bernama