KUALA LUMPUR: Ten men have been fined RM1,000 each by an Ampang Magistrate’s Court for failing to explain why they had a sum of RM3.14mil in their bank accounts. The money originally belonged to a 31-year-old private school teacher.
Magistrate Normaizan Rahim passed the sentence on contractor Mohamad Saifuddin Ismail, 29; lorry driver Mohammad Anas Kamarudin, 31; security guard Muhammad Ariff Ahmad Tajuddin, 29; technician Muhamad Helmi Ahmad, 39; and fisherman Mohd Syukur Maula Muhamad Desa, 32, after they pleaded guilty to the charge.
The others who pleaded guilty were security guard Mohd Hafiz Kamis, 38; trader Muhammad Ikhwan Iswandy Ramli, 38; odd job worker Mohd Nizam Mat Jasat, 51; construction site supervisor Khairul Mizan Mohamad Johari, 31; and contractor S. Vikneswaran, 29.
The court also ordered all of them to serve three months in jail if they failed to pay the fine.
The men – charged separately – were accused of not being able to give a satisfactory explanation on how they obtained the money.
The offences were committed at two banks in Ampang between Feb 2 and April 4.
The charge under Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act carries a maximum fine of RM1,000, imprisonment of up to one year or both, upon conviction.
According to the statement of facts, the complainant received a phone call from a man, who introduced himself as the chief operating officer from the Inland Revenue…