KUCHING: A 52-year-old administrative officer, currently suspended from the Sarawak Premier’s Department, pleaded not guilty in Kuching Magistrate’s Courts 1, 2, and 3 to 16 charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code for allegedly cheating victims into financing 13 non-existent Public Works Department (JKR) projects.
Investigating Officer Insp Mohd Azman Uddin from the Commercial Crime Investigation Division of Kuching District Police Headquarters said investigations revealed that the suspect, Mohamad Sadikin bin Sapiee, allegedly deceived the victim into making 227 transactions amounting to RM1,490,493 into his personal bank account between 2022 and 2024.
“The projects in question did not exist, but the victim was convinced to make payments with the expectation of returns that never materialised,” Asman said.
The accused is being held at Puncak Borneo Prison after failing to post RM17,000 cash bail for the 16 charges. The case has been fixed for further mention on August 19 and August 26, 2025.
By Connie Chieng