SEREMBAN: A 44-year-old contractor has claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court to six charges of cheating and misappropriation of RM116,000 belonging to a man.
Syed Zulkhairi Zainuddin pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Magistrate Syed Farid Syed Ali.
For the first three charges, the accused allegedly cheated the 46-year-old victim by getting him to invest RM40,000 in a non-existent investment scheme.
For the other three charges, he allegedly misappropriated RM76,000 belonging to the same victim.
The offences were allegedly committed between Jan 26 and 31, 2024, at Taman Pulai Impian in Sikamat near here.
For the cheating offences, he was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which provides a jail term of between one and 10 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
For the misappropriation charges, he was charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to five years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nadia Izzati Mohd Zainal offered the accused bail of RM6,000 for each charge pending remention.
However, counsel for the accused, Mohd Hanif Hassan, asked for a lower amount as his client only earned RM2,000 a month and had to provide for his wife and three young children.
Magistrate Syed Farid then offered the accused a total bail of RM18,000 and fixed Feb 4 for remention.
