BUTTERWORTH: In a first for the nation since the related law was amended in 2011, a 38-year-old mom of three has been fined RM50,000 for running a kootu (tontine) fund which the prosecution mentioned concerned a component of revenue.
Nor Jaimah Kamarudin, who operates a nasi lemak stall, was fined RM50,000 in default one 12 months’s jail for running the fund.
Nor Jaimah pleaded responsible to the cost below Section 3(1) of the Kootu Funds (Prohibition) Act 1971 earlier than Sessions Court decide Norhayati Mohamad Yunus right here on Monday (Feb 14).
Based on the cost sheet, Nor Jaimah was charged with organising a kootu fund for 5 people by social media from January to August 2018.
The amended cost carries a most cost of 10 years imprisonment or a RM500,000 nice, or each, upon conviction.
Nor Jaimah was charged in Kuantan in 2020 and the case was then transferred right here.
Dr Shamsher Singh Thind, who represented Nor Jaimah, urged the courtroom to consider the truth that this was her first offence.
“She is a mom of three sons aged between 4 and eight and runs a nasi lemak stall.
“Although she pleaded responsible to the cost, she didn’t achieve any revenue from the kootu fund.
“She has saved the courtroom time and assets by pleading responsible,” he mentioned.
He then urged the courtroom to impose an affordable nice as a jail time period was not obligatory.
Malaysia Companies Commission (SSM) prosecuting officer Mohd Iqbal Mohd Yusoff mentioned it carried out an investigation in September 2018 based mostly on police stories made in Kuantan, which compiled oral testimonies and paperwork implicating Nor Jaimah.
“The details confirmed that based mostly on the proof offered by the 5, Nor Jaimah was accountable for organising the fund.
“Furthermore, the proof from the contributors additionally reveals she used a private checking account to obtain and pay the proceeds (from the fund),” he mentioned in courtroom.
He urged the courtroom to mete out a sentence based mostly on public curiosity and security.
“The courtroom wants to guard the general public’s curiosity even whether it is financial.
“This shouldn’t be a conventional kootu, (because it) provided revenue.
“It economically impacted 5 ladies, who’re housewives.
“The punishment must be in accordance with the offence in order to be a lesson to her and the general public,” he informed the courtroom.
Outside the courtroom, Mohd Iqbal mentioned this was the first such case in the nation since the Act was amended in 2011.
“There have been different instances that we investigated however these weren’t delivered to courtroom.
“The kootu cash in this case ran to over RM100,000.
“We wouldn’t have a precise quantity as solely 5 individuals got here ahead and lodged police stories.
“To our information, there are extra individuals affected by this case,” he mentioned.
Nor Jaimah paid the nice.
