Elderly man charged with defrauding RM2.35 million in property deals

KUALA LUMPUR: A 69-year-old man, Tong Kah Hoe, has been charged with defrauding multiple individuals of RM2.35 million in connection with property transactions that took place nine years ago. He pleaded not guilty to the charges presented in two Sessions Courts.

Before Judge Azrul Darus, Tong was accused of deceiving Lee Kar Keat, persuading him to hand over RM1.75 million. This sum was allegedly for the purchase of seven condominium units in Alam Damai, for which Tong issued seven fake receipts. These fraudulent acts reportedly occurred between October 5 and November 9, 2018, at a business premises in Bandar Sri Petaling.

Separately, before Judge Norma Ismail, Tong faced a charge of defrauding Lim Pey Pey. He allegedly misled her into believing he would facilitate the purchase of two condominium units in the same location, knowing the units did not exist. This deception led Lim to transfer RM600,000 to Tong. This incident is said to have occurred on September 19, 2017, at a business premise in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling.

Both charges fall under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of imprisonment ranging from one to ten years, potential whipping, and a fine upon conviction. The prosecution requested bail of RM150,000 with one surety for both charges. However, Tong's defense lawyer argued for a lower bail, citing the accused's chronic health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, gout, and high blood pressure. The defense also highlighted that Tong has been unemployed for four years and supports a nephew suffering from cancer.

After considering the arguments, the court set bail at RM40,000 for all charges, with one surety. Tong is also required to report to the nearest police station monthly until the case concludes. The court scheduled further mention dates for October 10 and October 5 for the respective cases.