KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 — Two friends were charged in the Magistrate’s Court here today with attempting to cheat a doctor by producing a fake letter to solicit donation for the tahlil recitation and prayers related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both accused, Mohd Rizul Fuadzam Abu Bakar, 44, and Mohamad Razif Mohamad Razlan, 39, pleaded not guilty after the charge against them was read out by an interpreter before Magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin.
They were jointly accused of trying to cheat Dr Kwan Mun Keong, 50, by deceiving him into believing that the letter was genuine for the purpose of soliciting money for charity.
The offence was allegedly committed at a clinic at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur here, at 5.44pm, on November 9.
They were charged under Section 420/511 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same law, which provides a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping, and liable to a fine upon conviction.
It is understood that the doctor involved wanted to donate RM10,000, but realised that he was being cheated after asking a friend to verify the letter.
Deputy public prosecutor Illya Syaheedah Mohd Razif offered the accused bail of RM7,000 each.
Mohd Rizul Fuadzam appealed for lower bail on the grounds that he has been unemployed since being laid off in April and had to support his pregnant wife and five children, while Mohamad Razif who is a car salesman also appealed for a lower bail on the grounds that he had to support his parents.
The court allowed the two accused, who were not represented, bail of RM6,500 each in one surety and set January 4, 2021 for re-mention of the case, as well as for the appointment of a lawyer.
Earlier, at a different Magistrate’s Court, Mohd Rizul Fuadzam pleaded not guilty to falsifying a letter requesting donations for a tahlil recitation and prayers in relation to Covid-19, for the purpose of cheating.
He was accused of having committed the offence at the same location and time, and he was charged under Section 468 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment for a term of up to seven years and a fine if convicted.
Magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim allowed the accused a bail of RM4,000 in one surety and set January 11, next year, for re-mention.
— Bernama
