KOTA KINABALU: A 53-year-old man was charged at the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday with cheating a couple of RM240,000.
Clarence Sipain pleaded not guilty before magistrate Mohd Faiz Omar to committing the offence at MG Legal Chambers at Wisma Prudential here around 3pm on August 22, 2014.
He allegedly cheated Chong Thiam Vun and Kao Jin Min, both 50, by informing them that he could sell them a 0.76-acre piece of land at Kampung Nambazan, Penampang, though it was decided by the Native Court of Penampang that the land belonged to him and Vilette @ Mathilda binti Azulu, 60.
The offence, framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, is punishable with a prison term not exceeding 10 years, along with whipping and a fine.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Syahrin Ali, who acted for the prosecution, suggested bail of RM100,000 with two local sureties.
Counsel Muammar Zulkarnain, who defended Clarence, stated that the piece of land had been divided into two lots – Lot 1, belonging to Clarence and Lot 2 belonging to Vilette.
The land itself, Muammar added, belonged to Clarence who inherited it from his father.
On the issue of bail, Muammar argued that his client had to take care of his wife, who is a special needs person and is the sole provider for the family.
The court then fixed February 9 for case management and the trial on March 9 to 10, and allowed Clarence RM4,000 bail with two local sureties.
Meanwhile in a separate case, a man pleaded not guilty to threatening a man with a hammer.
Benhasud Yusop denied the charge which was read to him when produced before magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie.
On January 11, he had allegedly used a hammer to intimidate another person at 7.30pm at Wan Refrigerator and Aircond Services.
The offence, framed under Section 506 of the Penal Code, is punishable with a prison term no longer than seven years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Lim Swee Beng, who acted for the prosecution, requested a case management date and urged that no bail be granted to Benhasud as he did not have proper documents.
However, counsel Goldam Hamid, who acted for the accused, stated that bail must be granted as a matter of right, as his client is an IMM13 holder, and his travel documents will be valid until June 5 of this year.
He then proposed bail of RM1,000 bail for his client with two local sureties.
The court then fixed the case management on February 9 and allowed bail of RM1,500 with two local sureties before ordering Benhasud to report to the investigating officer once every two weeks pending disposal of the case.