KOTA TINGGI: A Pengerang Integrated Complex contract supervisor who sought donations from the public by falsely claiming that his family members have died of Covid-19, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, fined RM16,000, and given two strokes of the cane by the Magistrate’s Court here.

       Mohd Zahazan Zainon, 45, cheated a 34-year-old woman by giving her false information that his family members have died of Covid-19, and asked for a donation at the Pengerang Integrated Complex security unit office in Kota Tinggi.

       The incident took place between 5.20pm and 9.25pm on Sept 3, where the victim sent RM7,857 into Mohd Zahanon’s bank account.

       In the second charge, the accused committed an offence by asking for a donation with a similar story from a 38-year-old woman who gave him RM500 at around 6.34pm on Sept 3.

       He pleaded guilty to both charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a punishment of at least one year in jail and not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, caning and a fine, upon conviction.

       Mohd Zahazan, who was represented by lawyer Nurul Hidayah Mohd Asri, pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing that he has four children to take care of from his previous marriage.

       In mitigation, she added the accused has to bear the expenses of RM300 for each of his children on top of the RM960 in religious school (tahfiz) fees for two of them.

       Deputy Public Prosecutor Nursyamim Fateha Mohd Amin said the case was of public interest, and the accused should be given a heavy punishment as a lesson.

       “The accused took advantage of the public’s sympathy for his own interest during a time when Covid-19 has caused many to lose their lives.

       “Because of this, the people in the community and his workplace could start becoming sceptical of any news of deaths related to Covid-19 of those around them.

       “The victims could also have been having income problems as a result of the pandemic, yet they still made a donation to the accused,” she said, adding that he has betrayed their trutst.

       Magistrate Nurmadiana Mamat orders Mohd Zahazan to serve a jail term of three years, a fine of RM15,000 in default five months’ jail, and a stroke of the cane for the first offence.

       For the second offence, he was sentenced to a year in prison, a fine of RM1,000 in default of one month in jail, and a stroke of the cane.

       The jail terms run concurrently, starting from the date of arrest on Sept 4.

       “I hope this serves as an example and a lesson to the accused as well as for the public,” she said.