THIRTY-SIX Chinese nationals were brought before the Magistrates' Court here on Monday to face charges linked to a purported fraudulent investment call centre operation.
The accused, comprising 31 men and five women aged between 21 and 44, were charged with engaging in a criminal conspiracy to deceive victims—primarily Chinese nationals—through bogus investment offers.
Sinar Harian reported on Tuesday that the charges were read before Magistrate Mohd Farez Rahman. No pleas were recorded as the accused did not understand the Malay language. Prosecutors requested the charges be read again in Mandarin via a court interpreter.
According to the charge sheet, the group had allegedly conspired to commit an unlawful act by orchestrating a scam investment scheme targeting individuals in China.
The offence is in violation of Section 420 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 120B(2) of the same code.
The alleged offence took place at 3:30pm on 21 August 2025, at a residence in Taman Tanjung, Port Dickson.
If convicted, the accused face a maximum prison term of six months, a fine, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Azrif Firdaus Mohamad Ali opposed a bail request made by defence counsel Chan Kai Ping, citing the accused’s status as foreign nationals and the high risk of flight.
"They have no ties to Malaysia—no fixed address, employment, or family here. Most do not possess valid travel documents, and their passports have expired," Mohamad Azrif told the court.
He added that their embassy documents had been revoked in connection with offences allegedly committed in their home country.
In light of these concerns, the court denied the bail application and fixed the next mention of the case for 12 September. - Sept 2, 2025
