COVID claim: Man gets jail, fine, whipping for cheating colleagues

Magistrate Nurmadiana Mamat meted out the punishment to Mohd Zahazan Zainon, 45, after he pleaded guilty to the two charges read to him.

According to the first charge, Mohd Zahazan fraudulently deceived his colleague by giving false information that his family members had died of COVID-19, which prompted the victim to deposit RM7,857 into the accused's personal bank account as a donation.

For the second charge, the accused was alleged to have committed a similar offence by asking for a donation from another colleague who gave him RM500.

Both the offences were committed at the Pengerang Integrated Complex Security Division Office, between 5.20 pm to 9.25 pm, on Sept 3.

The accused was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries imprisonment for a maximum of 10 years, whipping and a fine.

In mitigation, Mohd Zahazan, who was represented by lawyer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Asri, pleaded for leniency, citing that he was looking after his four children from his previous marriage.

However, deputy public prosecutor Nursyamim Fateha Mohd Amin said the accused should be given a heavy punishment to serve as a lesson by taking into account the case was of public interest.

Magistrate Nurmadiana Mamat orders Mohd Zahazan to serve a jail term of three years, a fine of RM15,000 in default five months' jail, and a stroke of the cane for the first offence.

For the second offence, he was sentenced to a year in prison, a fine of RM1,000 in default one month in jail, and a stroke of the cane.

The jail terms run concurrently, starting from the date of arrest, on Sept 4.