Magistrate Nur Eleana binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Hairol Arni handed a two-year-and-four-month jail sentence to Muhd Saiful Aizan bin Abdullah Gumpulan, 39, yesterday following his guilty pleas to multiple counts of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code and another count of cheating under Section 417.
Prosecutor Nur Zahidah Farhanah binti Abdul Aziz detailed in court charges of a series of deceptive acts by the defendant between January and April this year. On four occasions, the defendant deceived different victims into believing he held various roles, including an officer at the Internal Security Department, a volunteer for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), a pet distributor and a tour guide in the Temburong District. He induced these victims to part with cash ranging from BND12 to BND60.
The defendant deceived another victim into accepting an order for 20 gift hampers under the pretext of being a UNICEF volunteer.
The court noted the defendant’s remorse and financial hardship as well as the lack of restitution made to the victims and aggravating factors including pattern of deceit over a short period with premeditation such as preparing fake UNICEF volunteer passes.
The court also considered the defendant’s lack of prior criminal convictions but decided on a deterrent sentence to protect the public from similar offences in the future. – Fadley Faisal
