Malaysian man prints fake banknotes to cheat bank, fund wedding

SIBU (Malaysia) — A 28-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (Feb 16) for allegedly printing RM4,000 (S$1,330) in counterfeit banknotes and trying to cheat a bank, in order to raise cash for his upcoming wedding in March.

He was detained at the Sungai Merah police station at 12.36pm while giving statement over the "discovery" of the fake bills.

Sibu police chief Assistant Commissioner Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said the suspect told police that he got the banknotes from an ATM in town and decided to lodge a police report on the matter.

He said the man, a government servant, had hoped that with the report, he would be able to claim the amount from a bank here.

But the man caught the local police's attention when he failed to substantiate some of the questions asked.

"When prodded further, he finally admitted to have printed the banknotes and was trying to dupe the bank."

He said the man had allegedly printed a total of 25 RM100 notes and 30 RM50 notes at his quarters in Sibu.

"He claimed that he had to do it because he is short of money to fund his wedding scheduled in March."

The case is being investigated under Section 489D of Malaysia's Penal Code for making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting currency notes or bank notes. NEW STRAITS TIMES