Nigerian student charged for bank fraud in Malaysia

A Nigerian student, Francis Luther Osayanem, 33, has been charged with two offences, including trying to defraud a bank officer of $9,000 using a fake passport and for possession of a fake passport.
Francis was denied bail by a magistrate’s court in Malaysia after his proposed sureties failed to even identify him by name. A local media site thestaronlinesite, reported.
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), S. Malini Anne urged the court to set the bail at RM40, 000 for the first offence and RM5, 000 for the second with two local sureties, considering the monetary amount involved.

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She also asked that Francis surrender his passport to the court, should bail be given. Magistrate Erry Shahriman Nor Aripin requested the bailers to give details about their so called “friend”, but they failed to even name him despite his name being read aloud along with the charge.

The magistrate denied Francis bail, saying the bailers did not qualify as suitable sureties. Both alleged offences occurred at the RHB Bank in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), on Jalan Ampang at 10.05am on July 26. The first charge is punishable under section 420 of the Penal Code with up to 10 years prison, whipping and a fine.

The second, an offence under Section 12(1) of the Passports Act 1966 is punishable by a maximum five years prison term and a fine, if convicted. All laws quoted are according to the codes of British colonised Asian country.

The case has been adjourned till September 26.