A ‘datuk seri’ and a single mother were each sentenced to 15 months’ jail and fined RM24,000 by the Sessions Court here today, after being found guilty of eight counts of deceiving eight people into purchasing fake ‘datuk’ title from Kelantan, involving more than RM735,000 in losses.

Judge Hasbullah Adam meted out the sentences on Saharuddin Awang Yahya, 55, and Norzihan Zainal Abidin, 56, after finding that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.

The court sentenced Saharuddin, a social activist, and Norzihan to 15 months’ jail and a fine of RM3,000, in default of six months' jail, for each charge and ordered the sentence to run concurrently.

Hasbullah, however, allowed a stay of execution pending appeal in the High Court and the bail of RM80,000 with one surety on each of them to be maintained.

Saharuddin and Norzihan were jointly charged with deceiving eight individuals into believing that they could secure the title for them, which prompted the victims to hand over cash and cheques totalling between RM60,000 and RM120,000.

The offences were committed at several locations in the capital, Ampang and Kepong, between March 2014 and February 2015.

The charge, under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and with whipping and shall also be liable to fine, upon conviction.

Earlier, lawyer Amirul Ridzuan Hanif, representing Saharuddin, asked the court to impose a lenient sentence, saying it was his client's first offence and he had repented.

Norzihan who was represented by lawyer Shah Rizal Abdul Manan also pleaded for leniency as she was suffering from arthritis and walking difficulties and had to seek regular treatment for the illness.

Deputy public prosecutors Suhaimi Ibrahim and Faridah Nurdinie Bahrum asked the court to impose an appropriate sentence considering the seriousness of the offences as well as to serve as a lesson to the accused and the public.

- Bernama