Kota Kinabalu: A 65-year-old man was fined a total of RM100 by the Magistrate’s Court here on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of failing to satisfactorily explain cash deposits into his bank account.
The accused, Asan Beluar, admitted to committing the offences before Magistrate Marilyn Kelvin under Section 22A(1) of the Minor Offences Ordinance (Sabah Cap 80).
The court imposed a fine of RM50 for each charge or three days’ imprisonment per count.
According to the charges, Asan was found to have RM2,588.60 belonging to an individual identified as Rosliah Sahadih in his Bank Rakyat account at 6.01pm on April 26, 2024, at Taman Ujana Kingfisher.
He failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the funds.
In another similar offence on the same day at 4.22pm and location, he was found to have an additional RM1,300 belonging to the same individual, which he also could not reasonably account for.
Each offence carries a maximum penalty of a RM100 fine, up to three months’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
The court heard that the funds were linked to an online investment scam. The victim had been deceived after responding to an advertisement on Instagram and was subsequently instructed via WhatsApp by individuals posing as financial advisers.
Multiple transfers were made into various bank accounts, but no returns were received.
Investigations later traced portions of the funds – RM2,588.60 and RM1,300 – into Asan’s Bank Rakyat account, leading to his arrest and charges.
In a separate case, a 21-year-old woman, Ayu Nazira, was fined RM1,500 or one month’s imprisonment after pleading guilty to engaging in online gambling in a public place.
She committed the offence at approximately 3.20pm on Dec 31, 2025, along a five-foot way near a restaurant in Inanam.
Ayu was charged under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
The prosecution told the court that Ayu was detained during a police operation and found using her mobile phone to conduct online gambling activities.
Further inspection of the device revealed access to a betting application equipped with a concealed password feature.
She later admitted her involvement with an online gambling agent.
The cases were prosecuted by Inspector Yusdi Basri.
