Businessman, wife charged with cheating 14 individuals of RM6.7 million

A businessman with the title 'Datuk' pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to 34 charges of cheating 14 individuals of RM6.7 million five years ago.

Ahmad Sabri Abdul Manaf, 64, was accused of deceiving the victims into believing that he could made investments related to Malaysia Airlines (MAS), particularly in the sale and purchase of air tickets in conjunction with the Formula One (F1) championship in Sepang in April 2011.

Ahmad Sabri was also accused to have misled the victims into believing that they would enjoy profit of between 10 and 20 per cent from the investment, which prompted them to hand over RM6.7 million to him.

He was alleged to have committed all the offences at several locations in the city between April 2010 and Feb 2011.

Judge Mat Ghani Abdullah allowed Ahmad Sabri bail of RM500,000 in one surety and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court and report to the Hulu Kelang police station on the first week of every month.

Prosecuting officer from Bank Negara Malaysia Mohd Shukri Ahmad Mansor prosecuted, while Ahmad Sabri was represented by lawyer Afifuddin Hafifi.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Sabri's wife, Felinnia Saruti Sadri, 37, was charged at another Sessions Court with 21 counts of cheating, involving RM5.2 million, in same cases of her husband.

She was accused of committing the offence during the same period and at the same locations.

Judge Abdul Rashid Daud allowed her bail of RM300,000 in one surety and ordered her to surrender his passport to the court and report to the nearest police station on the first week of every month.

Feb 23 was set for mention of their cases.