Five Chinese citizens among 15 fined over bogus job scam

JOHOR BARU: Fifteen men, including five Chinese citizens, were fined by two magistrate's courts here today after pleading guilty to offences linked to a bogus online job offer scam targeting victims overseas.

Nine Malaysians pleaded guilty before magistrate Nurzihan Abdul Rehman and were each fined RM3,500, or six months' jail if they failed to pay.

They were Liew Ming Hui, 23; Chong Yong Xuan, 25; Gan Kai Lin, 20; Gan Wei Xiang, 23; Myles Tan Yi, 21; Eldrick Tan Chin Lim, 24; Tan Hong Wei, 23; Dennis Chong Wen Wei, 26; and Chuah Kian Wei, 21.

In a separate court, Malaysian Yau Chin Lin, 33, and five Chinese citizens — Dong Ningning, 34; Chen Haihui, 40; Wang Mengnan, 34; Li Xing, 28; and Sun Qixin, 30 — also pleaded guilty before magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab.

They were each fined RM4,200, or six months' jail if they failed to pay.

The charges stated that all 15 had entered into a criminal conspiracy to commit online job offer fraud, an offence under Section 417 of the Penal Code.

They were accused of committing the offences at two residential units in East Ledang, Nusajaya, Iskandar Puteri, at 2.40pm and 5.30pm on Sept 25.

They were charged under Section 120B(2) of the Penal Code, read with Section 417, which provides for a maximum six-month jail term, a fine or both upon conviction.

All 15 paid the fines.

Lawyers Gan Chee Sheng and Chuah Shyue Chien, representing the accused separately, sought lenient sentences, citing their family responsibilities, including supporting parents, wives and children.

Deputy public prosecutors Nor Deana Aqilah Aliman and Sarah Siti Aisyah Mustapha Kamal, appearing separately, called for appropriate sentences as a deterrent.