JOHOR BARU: A man has claimed trial in two courts here for pretending to be a "Datuk Seri Panglima", and for cheating.

       In the first court, Feroz Musa, 47, was charged with two counts of admitting to be a Datuk Seri Panglima.

       He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in front of Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail in the Sessions Court here on Thursday (Oct 28).

       According to the charge sheets, Feroz admitted that he had been awarded the "Datuk Seri Panglima" title, which is an offence under Article 4(1) of the Johor Emblems, Titles and Awards (Prevention of Improper Use) Enactment 2017.

       He allegedly committed the offence on June 26 last year at Larkin Perdana, and on Jan 8 this year at Jalan Padi Ria in Bandar Baru Uda.

       If convicted, he could be fined not less than RM100,000 and not more than RM250,000 or jailed for not less than a year and not more than three years or both.

       The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Noor Idayu Salim and Farah Aqilah Ahmad Fuad while the accused was not represented by a lawyer.

       In his plea, Feroz claimed that he has schizophrenia and split personality disorder and asked for lower bail.

       He also said that he was the sole breadwinner of his family, which includes his three children.

       Judge Ahmad Kamal set bail at RM7,000 for each offence with one surety, and set next mention on Nov 14.

       Meanwhile, in a separate court, Feroz was charged with using a "Datuk Seri" title to entice a woman into depositing RM11,600 into his bank account between Dec 24 last year and Jan 5 this year.

       He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read in front of Magistrate Zuhainie Zull Kafli at the Magistrate's Court here.

       He allegedly committed the offence in a bank in Bandar Baru Uda and was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, where he could be jailed for a maximum of 10 years if convicted.

       The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Aina Syakira Muhammad Syafiq while the accused, who was not represented, managed to post bail.

       Zuhainie set bail at RM3,000 and next mention on Nov 14.