A 39-year-old man, Marchell Jeff Lee Sin Ket, was sentenced to one year in prison by the Sessions Court after pleading guilty to transferring and concealing RM487,790, funds obtained through a fraudulent Facebook investment scheme last year.
Judge Azrul Darus handed down a 12-month sentence for Lee’s role in hiding RM314,790 in his bank account between November 18 and December 12, 2024, funds belonging to Ong Boon Ian, 59, an investment company owner. The transaction took place at a condominium in Bandar Menjalara, Sentul.
In a separate charge before Judge Hamidah Mohamed Deril, Lee received an additional eight-month sentence for concealing RM173,000 from Chin Lit Teng, 49, an account executive at a health products firm. These funds were hidden at another condominium off Jalan Kuching, Taman Sri Kuching, between November 7 and December 9, 2024.
Lee was convicted under Section 424 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to five years imprisonment, a fine, or both. Both prison sentences are to run concurrently, starting from June 5, 2025.
According to case documents, both victims had been lured by a stock investment advertisement on Facebook. After registering, they were instructed to transfer money in stages into a bank account under Marchell Jeff Interior Design Haus Sdn Bhd. No returns were ever received, and the scheme was later confirmed to be fraudulent.
Deputy Public Prosecutors M Saravanan and Raihanah Abd Razak represented the prosecution. Lee appeared in court without legal representation.
Authorities urge the public to verify investment opportunities and avoid sharing funds with unlicensed entities, especially through social media platforms.
