Conman jailed, whipped for cheating

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KOTA KINABALU: For conning another man of RM720, a 48-year-old man was sentenced to a total of two years in prison and two strokes of the cane.

Basir Abdul Rahman, pleaded guilty to both charges which were read to him before magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie.

On the first count, he had cheated 45-year-old Mejal Munbih of RM200 by telling him that he could speed up Mejal’s permit to be a permanent resident in the state of Sabah on Nov 25 at Giant Hypermarket in Kolombong, at 11am.

He then conned the same man of RM520 with the same reason on November 26, at the same place at 11:15am.

The offence, framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, is punishable with a maximum prison term of 10 years as well as whipping and a fine.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was ordered to be given one stroke of the cane, however, he was allowed to serve his sentences concurrently.

Based on the facts of the case, on the day in question, at 11am, Mejal had met with a man (Basir) who claimed to be an immigration personnel using the name ‘Taib’.

Basir had informed Mejal that he could speed up the process of Mejal’s permit, which had been frozen.

The first payment, according to Basir, would be to find the file, and another RM520 the next day, giving the excuse that the court needed the payment.

Mejal was promised that his permit would be approved within the next three days, however to this day, he still has not been given his permit.

After asking several friends, it was revealed that the man he had done business with was not an official with the Immigration Department.

During mitigation, Basir had asked for a lighter sentence.