Four jailed 3.5 years for helping crime group steal from bank accounts

New Straits Times

a day ago

KOTA KINABALU: Four people were sentenced by the High Court here to three and a half years in jail for helping an organised crime group steal RM24.2 million from several bank accounts.
Josepin J. Langkan, 38, Nasir Abdul Rasid, 60, Vireonis Jonok, 35, and Leong Hin Ping, 62, pleaded guilty before judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol to an alternative charge under Section 130W of the Penal Code, which carries up to 10 years in jail upon conviction.
They were found guilty of helping an organised crime group further its interests between April 26 and July 10, 2024, at the MBSB Bank branch here.
Accused Mazlani Jenuary, 53, also pleaded guilty to the alternative charge, but his case would be mentioned on Sept 22 for facts and sentencing following a request from his counsel.
The prosecution offered the alternative charge after accepting representation letters from all the accused.
According to the facts of the case, a police report was lodged on June 27, 2024 following intelligence gathering on an organised crime group involved in forging identity cards, fraud and criminal breach of trust.
Josepin, Nasir, Vireonis and Leong were arrested at various locations between June 28 and July 12, 2024.
Investigations revealed that the accused helped the group commit criminal breach of trust, using forged documents, including MyKad, to obtain material benefits.
With their assistance, the group was able to withdraw large sums of money from several fixed deposit accounts at MBSB Bank in Kota Kinabalu.
The accused also helped the group withdraw millions of ringgit in three cases in Manggatal and one in Tanjung Aru.
These cases are being investigated under Section 408 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 120B of the code.
Josepin, Leong and Vireonis were represented by counsel Luke Ressa Balang and Hairul Vaiyron Othman, while Nasir was represented by Dominic Chew.
Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul, Datuk Nazran Mohd Sham and Yazid Mustaqin Roslan conducted the prosecution.
In mitigation, the counsel requested leniency, saying all the accused were first-time offenders and expressed remorse for their actions.
Luke said Vireonis has Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and a lengthy prison term would seriously affect his health.
He said Josepin and Vireonis would become prosecution witnesses.
The prosecution sought a deterrent sentence, citing public interest and the seriousness of the offence.
The court ordered the prison sentences for each accused to start from their date of arrest.
Suspects Irene Chin Nyuk Thien, 38, and Christina @ Caroline Pianus Etip will go on trial on Sept 22.
The two face the original charge under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code, which carries up to 20 years in jail, for being members of an organised crime group.
On June 13, three of the 10 individuals charged in connection with the same case were sentenced to five years in jail by the same High Court judge.