A 30-year-old local man has been sentenced to four years and six months in jail for orchestrating a series of online scams that left nine victims deceived and out of pocket.
Muhammad Nurrezian bin Abdullah pleaded guilty to multiple charges of fraud in the Magistrate’s Court, where Senior Magistrate Harnita Zelda Skinner also ordered him to compensate the victims a total of BND11,328. Failure to pay will result in an additional two months behind bars.
Prosecutor Ruzana Adnan revealed that between January and March 2024, the defendant used fake bank transaction screenshots to scam sellers on platforms like Facebook. Items targeted included mobile phones, an iPad, and even a car. The screenshots, featuring a “future date” to appear legitimate, convinced sellers to transfer ownership of their goods without receiving payment.
The scam left victims with losses ranging from BND570 to BND6,000. Despite promises of payment, the defendant’s bank account lacked sufficient funds, leaving sellers empty-handed.
Victims, unable to recover their items or contact the defendant, filed police reports that led to his arrest.
The case involved nine victims, each deceived into handing over their items without receiving payment. – Fadley Faisal
