KAMPAR: A 43-year-old former bank officer is facing charges of cheating involving fictitious investment schemes that resulted in losses exceeding RM110,000. The accused, M Pathmananthan, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out in Tamil before Magistrate A Hafiizh Abu Bakar in court on Wednesday (July 12). The charges are filed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a potential prison sentence of one to ten years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
In the first charge, Pathmananthan is accused of deceiving 32-year-old S Kogeelan into transferring RM30,000 to his account for an investment scheme at a local bank on March 28. The second charge involves 52-year-old M Jessica Mary, whom the accused allegedly led into transferring approximately RM80,600 from her account to his at a bank in Kampar between Oct 25, 2021, and Sept 22 last year. Pathmananthan allegedly convinced Mary to transfer the funds by promising returns through an investment scheme.
Deputy public prosecutor M Esther Jacyntha requested bail to be set at RM15,000 and RM40,000 for the two cases respectively. Pathmananthan’s lawyer, Baldip Singh Santokh Singh, sought a lower bail amount, highlighting his client’s employment and residency in Kampar. He proposed bail of RM5,000 for the first case and RM10,000 for the second. Mr. Singh emphasized that Pathmananthan is a married individual with three children.
After hearing the arguments, Magistrate A Hafiizh set the bail amount at RM8,000 and RM15,000 with one surety for each case. The court also scheduled a mention on July 26.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
