SIBU: A 37-year-old man was fined RM5,000, in default three months’ jail by the Magistrate’s Court for assisting in illegal money lending business today (19 May).
Magistrate Jessica Lee Suk Kiun meted out the sentence on Chia Kai Lun from Selangor after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
When the nature of charge was read and explained to Chia, through an interpreter in Mandarin, he understood the consequences of pleading guilty to it.
According to the charge sheet, the accused had assisted a moneylender by the name of “Ah Keong”, who is still at large, in carrying out the business of money lending without a valid licence under Moneylenders Act 1951at a house in Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce between Feb 10 and 18.
The offence punishable under 29AA(1) of the Moneylenders Act 1951 provides for an imprisonment of up to two years or fine of RM20,000 or both upon conviction.
During the proceedings, the court was told that in early Feb a restaurant operator (complainant) received phone calls offering personal money loans.
He agreed to make the loan offered for his capital round for the restaurant business.
Previously, he had borrowed money from the bank but the loan obtained was not sufficient for his business operation.
He agreed and made loan in five transactions before making a payment of RM65,000 on all the money borrowed.
After he made the payment, he received a call to pay off the money he had borrowed as he still has arrears to settle.
In mitigation, Chia represented by legal counsel Ben Lau pleaded for leniency, saying he was merely working for his boss.
He said it is not within his knowledge in respect of the validity of licence.
Moreover, he said he had separated with his wife and has to take care of his six-year-old son.
The fine was paid.
