KUALA LUMPUR: A freelance writer yesterday claimed trial in the Sessions Court to cheating a businessman of RM144,000 last year.
Mohamed Fareq Abdul Rahman, 35, of Setapak Garden here, is charged with having induced Ong Eng Huat, 45, into handing him the money after making him believe that two offer letters for the appointment of a Petronas service station dealer were genuine.
He is accused of having committed the offence at the Coffee Bean Restaurant in Mid Valley, Brickfields, in December last year.
The charge, under Section 420 of the Penal Code, provides for a jail term of between one year and 10 years, with whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Judge Azizah Mahamud set bail at RM50,000 with one surety and set Dec 15 for Mohamed Fareq to engage a lawyer and for submission of documents.
DPP Nabilah Ahmad Po’ad sought to have bail set at RM100,000 with one surety, citing the large sum involved but Mohamed Fareq, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a RM20,000 bail sum as he did not have a fixed income as a freelance writer who worked from home.
“I earn between RM1,000 and RM2,000 a month and am the sole breadwinner. My father is a heart patient and has to dig into his savings to post my bail,” he said.
Mohamed Fareq’s father was present in court. — Bernama