Four charged in Sabah for alleged role in multi-million ringgit investment scam

KOTA KINABALU: Four suspects have been charged at the Sessions Courts here for allegedly allowing their bank accounts to be used for scams and non-existent investment schemes.
Their actions allegedly caused a childcare centre owner in Penampang over RM2mil in losses from transactions made in 2024, the court heard on Wednesday (June 11).
No pleas were recorded from the four accused: Vincent Chia, 20; Maggie Neoh, 39; Wilson Anak Penchen, 40; and Nurul Mazidah Badrol Hisham, 34.
Their charges were read before Sessions Court judges Marlina Ibrahim, Hurman Hussain, Amir Shah Amir Hassan and Elsie Primus.
According to the facts of charge, Chia was involved directly in transactions amounting to RM135,000 in his personal account between Dec 10 and Dec 18, last year.
Neoh was accused of committing the same offence where she allegedly received RM39,000 on Dec 14, while Wilson received RM111, 668 from Dec 25 up to Jan 7, this year, and Nurul RM19,000 on Dec 17.
They were all charged under Section 424C (1) of the Penal Code for engaging in transactions using one's own payment instrument or financial account without lawful purpose.
If convicted, they could be jailed between three and 10 years and fined at least RM10,000 or up to RM150,000, or both.
The court set July 10 for case mention for Chia, July 8 for Neoh and July 10 and July 31 for Wilson and Nurul, respectively.
Earlier, the court heard that the victim lost over RM2mil after joining an investment scheme which she saw on a Facebook advertisement on Nov 26, 2024.
She had contacted the representative of the so-called investment company and was attracted to the scheme.
She made her payments and topped up her investments in a total of 53 transactions totalling more than RM2.17mil throughout her involvement in the scheme.
She received RM6,600, a cellphone and several gold plates weighing 15g and 50gr as investment returns.
The woman realised she had been scammed when her requests to withdraw a large amount of her 'profit' were denied, while she was compelled to top up her investments multiple times if she wished to withdraw.
Police are still pursuing other members of the syndicate involved in similar scams.

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