MELAKA: A 63-year-old man and his three children pleaded not guilty to charges of cheating in separate Sessions Courts in Ayer Keroh.

       Wong Tiing Kiong claimed trial before Sessions judge Nariman Badruddin to an offence of allegedly influencing, luring and cheating a company to pay for a non-existent sand mining project.

       According to the charge sheet, the company had issued two separate cheques, totalling RM1mil, at a bank in Taman Melaka Raya, here, on April 19, 2009.

       Tiing Kiong was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine and whipping, upon conviction.

       In another proceeding, before Sessions judge Maziah Joary Tajudin on Thursday (Jan 20), Tiing Kiong's three children were also charged for committing the same offences.

       The accused - Felix Wong Sing Jie, 27, Wong Sing Kung, 43, and Amy Wong E Tim, 33, - also claimed trial to a charge framed under Section 420.

       The three siblings had allegedly committed the offence on the same date.

       All the accused were represented by counsel Paul Krishnaraja.

       Both courts granted bail of RM20,000 to each accused and ordered them to report to the nearest police station every month until the end of the proceedings.

       The courts also fixed Feb 21 for mention.