SEREMBAN: Two friends claimed trial at the Magistrate's Court here to a charge of cheating a 50-year-old man into investing RM337,000 in a Covid-19 testing scheme here.

       Accounts clerk Pang Mui Fong, 49, and housewife Chua Fui Lee, 43, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to them before Magistrate Syed Farid Syed Ali.

       They allegedly cheated the victim into investing in the scheme between Dec 17, 2021 and April 20, 2022.

       The victim then transferred the money via 17 transactions.

       The duo were charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same legislation.

       Offenders can be jailed between one and 10 years, whipped and fined upon conviction.

       Deputy Public Prosecutor M. Pusspa then asked the court to set bail at RM25,000 for each of the accused pending the next mention of the case.

       StarPicks

       Sunway-Lancaster degree is top choice

       However, counsel for the accused Kevin Mahendran appealed for a lower amount as Pang was only an accounts clerk while Chua was a housewife.

       He said the Pang had also paid RM22,000 bail for four other cases at the Sessions Court.

       Mahendran said the second accused also suffered from fourth stage cancer and had to undergo treatment.

       "A high bail amount should not be imposed as both the accused have only been charged.

       "Nothing has been proven against them as of today," he said.

       Magistrate Syed Farid then set bail at RM6,000 with one surety for each of the accused and fixed Aug 24 for mention.