SHAH ALAM: A former Selayang Municipal Council general worker was fined RM7,000 by the Sessions Court today on two charges of cheating an old folks welfare home manager in 2022.
Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud meted out the sentence on Murugan Muniyandy, 43, after he pleaded guilty to two alternative charges under Section 417 of the Penal Code.
Murugan told the court he understood the charges after it was read out in Tamil by the court interpreter.
The charge sheets read that Murugan induced Gnanam Govindasamy into handing over RM2,300 and RM200 to obtain the council's auctioned goods and contribution for the Aidilfitri celebrations.
Murugan committed the offences at Taman Selayang Segar and in front of a bank in Jalan Raja Laut on April 4 and 10, 2022.
The offence carries a jail term up to five years; fine or both.
According to the facts of the case, Gnanam had on April 4 handed over RM2,300 to Murugan, whom he believed was able to secure the auctioned goods.
Gnanam had contacted Murugan to get pictures of the auctioned goods but it was never furnished.
On April 10, Gnanam banked in RM200 to Murugan's account after he asked for Aidilfitri contributions.
However, the council's probe revealed obtaining the auctioned goods was out of Murugan's work jurisdiction while the Aidilfitri do was only for its staff and there was no request to seek for contributions.
Murugan was arrested by the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Nov 22 last year at its headquarters.
MACC prosecuting officer Mohd Aliff Shaharuzaman asked the court to impose a deterrent sentence to reflect the severity of such cases, which are rampant in the society.
He asked the court to consider the interest of the public rather than an individual.
In mitigation, defence counsel Komagan Kanan said Murugan, a bachelor, was terminated from his job after the incident and worked as a lorry attendant earning RM1,500 monthly.
He said Murugan was unable to work for the past two months due to chronic diabetes complications on his right leg and was receiving treatment at the Selayang Hospital.
"This is his first offence and I plead to the court to give him a last chance to better himself with a minimum punishment.
"He has promised not to repeat the mistake and the charges had impacted him, on top of his health condition," he said.
Judge Awang Kerisnada fined Murugan RM5,000 in default five months jail and RM2,000 in default two months jail for both charges.
