Two Datuks charged with cheating over non-existent affordable housing project

PETALING JAYA: Koperasi Hartanah Malaysia Berhad (Kohama) executive chairman, Datuk Jali Sekak and part-time lecturer Datuk Dr Mohd Nasirudin Othman claimed trial at four Sessions Courts here today, to six counts of cheating in connection with the non-existent 1Malaysia Affordable Housing Project involving a loss of RM5.36 million, three years ago.
Jali, 52, and Mohd Nasirudin, 41, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read out before judges Norshila Kamaruddin, Hilmiah Yusof, Azwarnida Affandi and Mabel S. Muttiah.
Jali's wives, namely Norhaizan Yahya, 45, and Nur Nadia Yusof, 30, were also charged with abetment and misappropriation involving RM2.56 million in total over fraudulent construction of non-existent affordable homes.
Based on the charges, Jali, who was also former Koperasi Pembangunan Hartanah Putrajaya Berhad (KPHPB) chairman and Mohd Nasirudin, had allegedly cheating six individuals (contractors) by deceiving the victims to believe in the existence of the housing projects offered to six companies by KPHPB.
The construction of the affordable homes were alleged to have taken place in Labis, Segamat in Johor; Sungai Soi, Kuantan and Mentakab in Pahang; as well as three locations in Perak including Setiawan and Bidor.
Subsequently, all the victims were alleged to have handed over the RM5.36 million in total as a bond to become the contractors for the housing projects.
Jali and Mohd Nasirudin had allegedly committed the offences at Koperasi Putrajaya Berhad in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya between Sept 2013 and Feb 2014.
They were charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the Code which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping and a fine.
On the other hand, Nur Nadia was charged with abetting with three others, including Jali and Mohd Nasirudin to deceive P. R. Parry, 57, of RM1.2 million into believing that the construction of the 1Malaysia Affordable Housing Project in Kampung Sri Rahmat, Segamat, Johor as offered to Friendly Field Sdn Bhd by KPHPB, existed.
The charge under Section 420 of the Code, read together with Section 109 of the same law provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and whipping and a fine.
Deputy public prosecutors V. V. Suloshani, Shafiq Hasim, Norazalina Razali and Fazeedah Faik prosecuted, while the men were represented by lawyer Wan Shahrizal Wan Ladin. — Bernama