MIRI: A Bruneian man, 60, was sentenced to a total of 13 years and six months’ jail for cheating 16 individuals in a house sale scam in this division.

The jail term took effect from yesterday after Jalil Paweh, who was not represented by any lawyer, pleaded guilty to all 16 cheating charges.

Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa also fined Jalil a total of RM4,000.

Head of Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), Supt Mustafa Kamal Ghani Abdullah, said the unemployed Jalil faced 16 charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The offences were committed between November 2015 and May 2016.

An offender could be jailed not less than a year and not not than 10 years, and also liable to whipping and a fine on conviction.

“Jalil was arrested in Lawas on Feb 28 by a police team, and it was found that he was included in the list of persons wanted by the police for the case.

“A total of nine investigation papers have been opened involving 48 victims with total losses of RM95,620 incurred,” Mustafa said in a press statement received here yesterday.

He also said Jalil committed the fraud cases while he was in Miri by enticing his victims to purchase houses under the Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT) programme.

“Police investigation found that the deals did not exist and the victims’ money used for the accused personal use,” he added.

Prosecuting before Zuraini Ali Musa’s court was Mohd Khairi Mohd Noor.

Meanwhile, Jalil has 32 other charges to be heard in court today. He is currently held at Lambir Prison.