KOTA KINABALU: A local man was jailed for a total period of four years and seven months and ordered to be whipped thrice by the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on three cheating charges.
Magistrate Herlina Muse yesterday meted out the sentence on Venson Makasut, 38, after the latter pleaded guilty to all the charges.
On the first count, Makasut was jailed for 19 months’ jail and ordered to be given one stroke of the cane for cheating a woman Haslindah @ Indang Barikok, 36, by inducing her to hand over RM3,300 in cash to the accused purportedly as a deposit for the purchase of a Proton Iswara car.
He admitted to committing the offence at a car park of a hotel in Kampung Air about 10.30am on April 7, 2009.
Makasut was handed with a one-year jail and a stroke of the cane, for cheating one Lorick Malus, 36, of RM500 purportedly as a deposit for purchasing a Toyota Unser vehicle about 10am on June 14, 2009 at the Foh Sang area.
On the third count, the court sentenced the accused to two years’ jail plus one stroke of the cane, for cheating Malus Sugandak, 61, of RM9,000 also purportedly as a deposit to purchase a Toyota Unser vehicle.
He committed the offence at a fast food restaurant in Luyang about 10am on June 15, 2009.
Each of the charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code provides for a jail term of up to 10 years and whipping, and also liable to a fine, upon conviction.
The accused would however serve three years and seven months in prison after the court ordered the jail sentences for the first two charges to run concurrently and the sentence for the third charge to run consecutively thereafter.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Azaman Hamat prosecuted.