KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — A 40-year-old woman was fined RM35,000 at the Sessions Court today after pleading guilty to defrauding a computer company operations manager in a Bitcoin mining machine scheme nine years ago.
Judge Azrul Darus handed down the sentence to Lim Pei Pei, ordering 12 months' imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
The court heard that the accused had deceived Tan Hon Ken, 51, with an offer to purchase a Bitcoin mining machine, fraudulently inducing him to part with RM599,100.
The offence took place at a commercial centre unit on Jalan Sentul between December 1, 2017, and January 5, 2018. She was charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
During proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Izzat Amir Idham urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence commensurate with the crime.
Addressing the court in mitigation, Lim, who was unrepresented, appealed for leniency, citing her role as a mother of four school-age children, aged 13 to 18.
