TAIPING: A candidate for the Jelapang state seat in the 15th general election (GE15) was charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with 77 counts of cheating involving RM350,801.95.
Hamidah Muhamad, 47, pleaded not guilty to all charges read before Magistrates R. Prabakaran and Nur Atiqah Sapari in separate courtrooms.
The mother of four allegedly deceived four individuals between 2021 and 2022 by offering the sale of land and houses in Taiping which did not exist.
The four are siblings Razhiyah Salleh, a teacher in Taiping; Robiah Salleh, a teacher in Putrajaya and Faridah Salleh, a school principal in Taiping; as well as Efendi Zainuddin, a school principal in Batu Kurau.
They claimed to have suffered losses between RM10,000 and RM117,000 each.
The charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment and whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
Hamidah, who contested under the Friends of Barisan Nasional Makkal Sakti ticket in GE15, lost to Cheah Pou Hian (DAP) and only garnered 1,443 votes.
At the Magistrate 1 courtroom, Hamidah faced 38 charges of cheating before Prabakaran.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Khoo Thean Heng prosecuted while the accused was represented by S. Singaradivel.
At the Magistrate 2 courtroom, Hamidah faced 39 charges of cheating before Nur Atiqah.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Nur Amalina Harun prosecuted.
During mitigation, Singaradivel said the offence was bailable.
"She is a housewife and has four children.
"She suffers from a heart problem and is seeking treatment at the National Heart Institution (IJN). She also has brain and spinal cancer.
"She also has high blood pressure and takes 32 pills daily.
"The purpose of bail is not for her to escape," he added.
Bail was set at RM24,000 with two sureties for all charges and the accused was ordered to surrender her passport.
The court fixed July 31 for mention.
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