A BANGLADESHI man and a local woman pleaded not guilty at a magistrate’s court in Kuala Lumpur today to cheating an engineer through a home renovation package offer in May.

Osman Goni, 37, and Yong Yen You, 32, were jointly charged with cheating Chan Kee Yew, 37, by deceiving Chan with a non-existent home renovation and furniture package worth RM14,200 as well as offering to find tenants.

This prompted Chan to hand over the money, which was deposited in Yong’s bank account.

The offence was allegedly committed at a condominium in Jalan Perhentian, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur between May 27 and November 12.

The accused were charged under section 420 of the penal code, read together with section 34 of the same Act, which is punishable with a jail term of not less than a year and not exceeding 10 years, caning and fine if convicted.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Hafiezah Mohamed Fauzi sought RM6,000 bail with one surety for Yong, who was represented by lawyer Wayne Lim, while Osman, who was unrepresented, was not offered bail because he is a foreigner.

Magistrate Nadia Othman set RM3,000 with one surety for Yong and fixed January 4 next year for the case mention.

The media had previously reported that police managed to bust a house renovation scam syndicate involving foreign men around Pantai Dalam on November 5, which had allegedly conned at least 40 condominium owners, with losses totalling RM84,550.

Sentul district police chief Beh Eng Lai said the suspect posed as an asset management agent and offered home renovation packages as low as RM14,000 in addition to furniture and electrical items as well as finding tenants for the clients. – Bernama, November 26, 2021.