Kota Kinabalu: Two security guards were fined a total of RM400 by the Magistrate’s Court, Tuesday, for having fraudulent money.
Refnaldi Ronaldino Lee, 22, and Mohd Haiqal Syahfiee Ahmad, 22, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lovely Natasha Charles to having money in their Hong Leong and RHB bank accounts, respectively, in which Refnaldi and Haiqal failed to give a satisfactory explanation on how they obtained them.
Refnaldi was charged with three counts of having fraudulent money totalling RM1,750 belonging to Esmerelyndya Edward at 1.15pm on March 3, last year, in Sembulan.
Refnaldi was fined RM300 or three months’ jail, in which he was fined RM100 on each count.
Meanwhile, Haiqal was fined RM100 or three weeks’ jail for having RM1,500 belonging Mohammad Rizal Abdul Ghani at 1.04pm on Aug 27, last year, in Inanam.
The offence, under Section 22A (1) of the Minor Offences Ordinance, provides for a fine of up to RM100 or three months’ jail, or both, on conviction.
In Refnaldi’s case, prosecuting officer, Inspector Kelvan Elson Maik, told the court that on March 2, the complainant saw an Instagram page that sells cats.
The complainant was interested in buying two cats and contacted the seller through WhatsApp, paying RM1,000 into a CIMB bank account belonging to Mohd Ikhwan.
The next day, the complainant was contacted by the seller, who stated that a deposit payment of RM550 was required for the issuance of the quarantine certificate and that the money would be returned after the certificate was issued in 15 minutes.
The complainant then made a deposit payment into Refnaldi’s Hong Leong bank account.
After a few hours, the complainant was contacted again by the seller and asked to make a payment into the same bank account for a delivery insurance payment amounting to RM1,200.
The complainant was informed to wait until the transaction was completed and the money would be returned once done.
However, the complainant did not receive the money as promised and lodged a police report, said Kelvan.
In Haiqal’s case, Kelvan said the complainant had transferred the money to a bank account in Haiqal’s name after seeing a Facebook ad for a homestay at Jesselton Quay Blocka.
However, the complainant felt scammed and lodged a police report, said Kelvan.
Both Refnaldi and Haiqal requested for leniency.
Kelvan applied for a deterrent sentence.
