MIRI: The High Court yesterday upheld the magistrates’ court judgment on a former Welfare Department staff member who was found guilty of two charges of cheating a restaurant owner.The decision was made by the judge Datuk Zulkifli Bakar. He rejected a plea made by Mohd Zulkaria Mohd Sebli related to his punishment passed by the lower court on November 6 last year.
While reading his decision, the judge said the offence was serious and the offender ought to receive a deterrent sentence.
“As a government servant, you know that it is a serious offence to misuse the Service Order. Therefore, you ought to receive a deterrent punishment,” said Zulkifli.
Mohd Zulkaria Mohd Sebli, 31, of Kampung Pengkalan Lutong faced two charges of cheating.
The offences come under Section 420 of the Penal Code that provides for a jail sentence of not less than one year and not more than 10 years, whipping and a fine for each charge.
In the first charge, Zulkaria was alleged to have deceived one Nurzanah Bujang by making
him believe he was a government servant from the Welfare Department when he booked RM980 worth of food using a Service Order in connection with the visit of some senior citizens from Limbang.
The accused was alleged to have committed the offence at 10am on November 29, 2008 at Restoran Nurzanah, Lot 429 GF in Jalan Bendahara.
The second charge stated that he repeated the offence on the same victim when he booked drinks for a Christmas party. The victim gave him RM250.
This offence was committed at 10am on December 4, 2008 at the same place.
Prosecution was carried out by deputy public prosecutor Franklin Ganggan Bennet while the appellant was not represented.