Two Nigerians on trial in Malaysia for online fraud

Two Malaysia-based Nigerian nationals, Omigie Progress Omor, 28, and Chidinma Ukachukwu, 23, on Friday pleaded not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to charges linked to an alleged online fraud scheme known as a “love scam.”

The duo—according to the country’s online media, Bernama— appeared before Magistrate Ain Nurshahira Sahzan, where the charges were read in English.

They are accused under Section 424A of the Malaysian Penal Code, read with Section 34, for possessing and controlling another person’s bank account.

Also, they face charges under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid travel documents.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Amalina Johar, told the court that both defendants were unrepresented. The court set February 3 as the date for the next hearing and the submission of documents.

Meanwhile, a local woman, Normaizatulakmal Mamat, 38, pleaded guilty to being an account mule for online fraud. She admitted to surrendering her ATM card and banking access to another individual involved in the scam.

The court fined her RM250, with a three-day jail term in default.

The arrests stemmed from an incident in mid-December, when the two Nigerian suspects were apprehended at a roadblock in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, for possessing an ATM card registered to another individual. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Normaizatulakmal, the ATM card owner, by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department at the Putrajaya district police headquarters.

Egyptian Man Denies Child Abuse Charges
In a separate case, a 37-year-old Egyptian man pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to charges of child abuse involving his two young children.

The man is accused of wrapping a telephone cable around the neck of his four-year-old son and throwing his one-year-old daughter onto a bed, causing injuries to both children.

The alleged incident occurred last Tuesday, December 17, at 8:30 a.m., in a rented room on Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Brickfields.

The charges were brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which stipulates penalties of up to RM50,000 in fines, a maximum prison term of 20 years, or both upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Joshua Tee Yee Khuan opposed bail, citing the non-bailable nature of the offense and the fact that the accused was unrepresented.

Sessions Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali adjourned the case to January 20 to allow for document submission and the appointment of legal representation.