Kota Kinabalu: The Magistrate’s Courts here have fixed July 2 and July 6 for mention of the case involving 61 Chinese nationals charged with criminal conspiracy linked to a non-existent investment scheme.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus set July 6 for 45 of the accused after their counsel applied for another mention date.
The 45 accused are Wong Pan, He Zhegiang, Huang Wan, Han Hexiang, Liao Liangwu, Luo Mengting, Liao Tao, Wang Junjie, Tang Long, Xiao Beiping, Qin Yanzhao, Wu Nengrang, Han Fu, Xu Jianzhong, Lin Yunfeng, Gao Shiqiang, Liu Zhuang, Peng Gang, Duan Jing, Liu Jian, Li Zhiqiang, Jiang Heng, Zhou Yongjing, Jiang Xinglong, Zheng Lin, Zhang Bin, Zhang Wei, Cai Jianren, Yang Chao, Ma Guangcai, Wu Wenfeng, Zhuo Chong, Qiao Jie, Liu Fei, He Tianyu, Wang Yong, Wei Hongzhuan, Li Qing Wen, Huang Shikui, Zeng Wu, Zhou Xiang, Chen Siyu, Yuan Chuangang, Zhu Xiao Juan and Zeng Jie.
They were jointly charged with being parties to a criminal conspiracy by agreeing among themselves to dishonestly induce victims into believing in the existence of a non-existent investment scheme, an offence under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 417 of the same Code.
The alleged offence was committed at a unit in Sutera Avenue, Jalan Coastal Highway, Sembulan, at about 12pm on April 23 this year.
Upon conviction, they face imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both under Section 417 of the Penal Code.
Counsel Hairul V. Othman informed the court that all the accused had previously been produced in open court at the Sessions Court, where a representation had been submitted in respect of charges under the Immigration Act.
He said the prosecution had requested two to three weeks to consider the representation, with July 2 fixed for mention on its status.
He further submitted that in the present case before the Magistrate’s Court, a similar representation had also been made in relation to the charges, and requested that the same mention date be applied.
Hairul also informed the court that another Magistrate’s Court had fixed July 2 for mention involving the remaining 16 accused facing similar charges.
All 61 accused had on May 11 pleaded not guilty to the charge, while three other accused had pleaded guilty and were each fined RM3,500 or sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
The 61 were ordered to remain on remand pending mention of their cases.
Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus fixed July 6 for mention of the present case pending the outcome of the representations made by the defence. Counsel Luke Ressa Balang appeared alongside Hairul.
On June 8, 20 Chinese men and a Taiwanese woman were also charged in the Magistrates’ Courts with a similar offence of criminal conspiracy linked to a non-existent investment scheme.
The 21 pleaded not guilty to committing the offence in a hotel room at Bandaran Berjaya here at about 10pm on May 21 this year.
They were ordered to remain on remand pending mention of their case on June 12.
