Eight Chinese nationals charged for operating fake investment call centre in Johor

JOHOR BARU: Eight Chinese nationals were charged at the Magistrate Court here for allegedly operating a call centre that offers non-existent investment.

The accused are Feng Xiao Wei, 19; Gao Jun Jie, 19; Lin Wen Jie, 22; Hu Zhi Cong, 27; Liu Bo Nan, 27; Zhang Hao, 35; Fan Zi Chao, 33, and Wu Wei Bin, 38.

They pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them in Mandarin before Magistrate R. Salini, here, on Wednesday (Oct 23).

According to the charge sheets, all of the accused were found to have run a scam centre together that offered a non-existent investment.

The act was allegedly committed on Oct 9, 2024, at Jalan Austin Height 2/14, Taman Mount Austin.

The act was framed under Section 120(B)(2) of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 417 of the Penal Code.

If found guilty, the section provides for imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine or both.

Deputy public prosecutors Nik Noratini Nik Azman and Nur Ameerah Allaudeen prosecuted the case, and the accused was represented by lawyers Chuah Shyue Chien and Kenji Soh Xin Da.

During the proceeding, Nur Ameerah requested that bail be set at RM10,000 for each of the accused, with two local sureties.

They are also required to surrender their international passports to the court and report to the nearest police station every month.

Chuah, in mitigation, said that the majority of his clients are taking care of their elderly parents and grandparents back in China.

The court then set bail at RM5,000 with two local sureties along with the additional terms.

The court also set Nov 13 for the case next mentioned.

All of the accused had posted bail.