Fadley Faisal

A local man will learn his fate on August 31, after pleading guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to cheating and money laundering.

Magistrate Hajah Ervy Sufitriana binti Haji Abdul Rahman is considering a fitting punishment for Muhammad Izwan Zulhasree bin Muhammad Aliyas, 21, who is under remand.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Dayangku Didi-Nuraza binti Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff revealed in court that the defendant had responded to a Facebook advertisement looking for car gearbox parts on July 29.

The defendant, posed as an interested party claiming to have the parts for sale.

The person who posted the advertisement, on behalf of his brother, informed his brother of a seller offering the parts for BND90.

His brother then created a group chat with the defendant and his brother.

Having agreed to the deal, the brother was then instructed to make a deposit of BND50 into a bank account number, which he did on July 30.

Later that day, the brother was instructed to make a further payment of BND16 into the account.

But when the items never arrived, the brother grew suspicious and filed a police report.

Meanwhile, at 11pm on August 3, the defendant managed to swindle another person who had posted a Facebook advertisement for gas cylinders.

Posing as a seller, he convinced the other person to pay BND120 into his account for two gas cylinders.

A police report was duly made on August 8, when the victim realised that he had been cheated.

It was also revealed that the defendant had cheated his brother and the other victim of their money to buy tokens for online gaming.

The money that he used for the purchase of the tokens was derived from criminal proceeds, which amounts to money laundering.