The Johor Bahru magistrates’ court imposed fines ranging from RM4,000 to RM10,000 on the Chinese nationals who pleaded guilty to the immigration and fraud-related charges. (Wikimedia Commons pic)PETALING JAYA: A total of 159 Chinese nationals were charged in the Johor Bahru magistrates’ court today with involvement in an online fraud syndicate operating in Forest City, Johor.The accused, aged between 20 and 58, were also charged with entering and remaining in Malaysia without valid passes, reported Sinar Harian.They were charged before magistrates A Shaarmini, Atifah Hazimah Wahab and Nurzihan Abdul Rehman.They were charged under Section 120B(1) of the Penal Code with deceiving victims through a non-existent cryptocurrency investment scheme.They were also charged with illegal entry under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.The court subsequently imposed fines ranging from RM4,000 to RM10,000 on those who pleaded guilty to the immigration and fraud-related charges.The court set Aug 13 to Aug 24 for case mention and submission of documents for those who claimed trial.Deputy public prosecutors Anis Shafeeqah Shariffudin, Nor Hidayah Tarmizi, Sarah Siti Aisyah Mustapha Kamal, Adilah Farzana and Nor Deana Aqilah Aliman appeared for the prosecution.The accused were represented by lawyers Heng Wang Qianyou, Heng Wang Qianwei, Clement Tiong and Ng Mee Xuan.A major joint operation on July 15 led to the dismantling of two online scam syndicates operating in Forest City, Johor, with 335 people arrested, most of whom were Chinese nationals.According to Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad, the first syndicate comprised 279 suspects who allegedly carried out love and cryptocurrency scams, while the second involved 56 suspects who allegedly impersonated recruitment agents and offered fake cryptocurrency investments to victims.
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