Facing the music: The accused being taken to the Sessions Court in Seremban to be charged.
SEREMBAN: A 45-year-old freelance religious teacher has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to three charges of impersonating an advocate and solicitor.
Muhammad Syafiq Stewart Abdullah pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Judge Mazni Nawi.
For the first two charges which he committed on Nov 18, 2021, he had allegedly deceived a man into believing he was a qualified lawyer.
For the third charge, he was charged with deceiving another person on March 2, 2022 for the same offence.
The offences were allegedly committed around 10am at the Seremban 2 court complex.
Muhammad Syafiq was charged under Section 416 of the Penal Code which is punishable under Section 419 of the Code.
Offenders can be jailed for up to seven years or fined or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Ashrof Kamarul offered the accused bail of RM10,000 for each charge pending the next mention.
However, Muhammad Syafiq’s counsel Ahmad Zahid Abu Hashim appealed for a lower amount for bail as the accused has been unemployed since last year.
The accused, he said, also has to support his wife who only recently started working as a legal executive, and their two young children.
“My client has been freelancing as a religious teacher at surau and mosques upon invitation.
“Also, he gets only between RM100 and RM200 for each session,” he said, adding that the accused had also been under remand for four days.
Ahmad Zahid said the accused also has high blood pressure and was under medication.
“We are also asking for a lower amount for bail as the nature of the alleged offences is the same,” he said, adding that the accused is not a flight risk.
Judge Mazni then set bail at RM5,000 for each charge and fixed Dec 9 for next mention.
