EIGHT CHINESE NATIONALS CHARGED WITH NON-EXISTENT INVESTMENT FRAUD

TEMERLOH, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Eight Chinese nationals, comprising six men and two women, pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate's Court here today to charges of engaging in a non-existent investment fraud last month.

Tan Zhenkun, 29; Zhang Dongdong, 33; Xu Leilei, 39; Tian Fuchao, 27; Chu Yuzhang, 28; Wang Chong, 37; and the two women Shi Guoting, 23, and Bai Yanyun, 30, entered their pleas after the charges were read out in Mandarin before Magistrate Tan Chiew King.

All eight are jointly charged with committing the fraud at a hotel in Bera at 2.15 pm on Nov 27. 

The charge was brought under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code, which carries imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Sarah Aqilah Lokman proposed bail of RM10,000 with two local sureties for each accused, in addition to the surrender of their passports to the court.

The court subsequently granted bail of RM5,000 with one surety for each accused. All eight accused were represented by lawyer Carenjit Kaur Mann.

At the same court, the eight individuals also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of remaining in the country after the expiry of their visit passes.

They were charged under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a fine of not less than RM10,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

The court fixed Jan 5 for the mention of both cases, pending the handing over of documents.

Previously, the media reported that police had detained eight Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in an online investment fraud scheme. They were believed to have deceived predominantly fellow Chinese nationals. 

-- BERNAMA