By JAMES LEONG
TAWAU: A total of 80 suspected online scam syndicate members, mostly Chinese nationals, were brought to the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday on charges of criminal conspiracy and immigration offences.
The accused consist of 78 Chinese nationals (including four women), one Myanmar national, and one Lao national.
All pleaded not guilty to charges under Section 120B of the Penal Code for allegedly conspiring to deceive victims by impersonating Chinese police officers in an insurance fraud scheme. The offence was allegedly committed at a premises here around 9.25 pm on April 7.
During the proceedings before Magistrate Dayang Aidaku Amira Aminuddin, a court interpreter read out the charges in Mandarin to ensure the accused fully understood them.
All 80 accused acknowledged understanding the charges before pleading not guilty. Seven of the accused were represented by lawyer Vivian Thien, while two others were represented by lawyer Jhesseny P. Kang. The remaining accused were unrepresented.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Shearil Aizad Murnizam led the prosecution in the Magistrate’s Court and objected to bail. The court allowed 57 of them bail of RM3,500 each with two local sureties, but 23 others were not offered bail as they also face immigration charges.
Separately, before the Sessions Court, 22 accused pleaded not guilty to immigration offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, and one pleaded not guilty to overstaying under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Kadisun, Prosecuting Officer. The court denied bail to all of these accused and ordered them to be further detained at Tawau Prison under Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The court set May 25 for the next mention of all cases.
Some of the alleged scam members at the Tawau Magistrate’s Court.
