KOTA TINGGI – The man who fooled the public by claiming that he has lost 14 family members to Covid-19 has been sentenced to three years in prison.
The accused, who is also a contract supervisor at the Pengerang Integrated Complex was also fined RM16,000 in lieu, six months in prison and whipped twice after he pleaded guilty to two counts of cheating two of his colleagues to get donation on 3 September.
The plea was recorded before Magistrate Nurmadiana Mamat at the Kota Tinggi Magistrate Court today.
According to the charge paper, the accused, Mohd Zahazan Zainon, 45, cheated two of his colleagues by telling them that his family members have passed away due to Covid-19 when it was untrue and motivated the victims to deposit RM7,857 into the accused’s bank account as donation.
For the second count of charge, the accused cheated another colleague by stating the similar matter which caused the victim to deposit RM500 into the accused’s bank account as donation.
The two offences were committed on 3 September between 5.20 pm until 9.25pm at the Security Department Office of the Pengerang Integrated Complex.
The accused was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment between one and 10 years and is also liable to a fine.
Earlier, lawyer, Nurul Hidayah Mohd Asri who represented the accused appealed for lighter punishment as it was his first offence. Besides that, the accused is supporting four children from his first marriage and two other children who are in tahfiz school.
Taking into public interest over personal interest, Deputy Public Prosecutor, Nursyamim Fateha Mohd Amin appealed for a hefty punishment.
Normadiana then sentenced the accused to three years in prison from the date of arrest and RM15,000 fine, in lieu, the accused need to serve five months in prison and one whip for the first count of charge.
Meanwhile, on the second count of charge, the court sentenced the accused to one year in prison from the date of arrest, RM1,000 fine, in lieu, one month in prison and one whip.
The sentence run concurrently.
The accused was arrested after he was suspected of spreading fake news of losing 14 family members due to Covid-19 and raked RM91,000 in donation.
According to the viral social media information, the man claimed that he has eight children. He lost his wife and three of his children in June and July due to Covid-19.
On 2 September, the man claimed that he lost another five of his children, along with his mother, sister, brother-in-law and two of their children to Covid-19. -MalaysiaGazette
