KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairman Datuk R. Sri Sanjeevan was brought to the Magistrate’s Court here again and was charged with cheating his academic qualifications.

Sanjeevan, 32, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge before Magistrate Mohd Faizal Ismail after the charge was read out to him.

He was accused of having cheated company director S.Sivam, 53, by dishonestly inducing the latter into believing that he (Sanjeevan) had law and business degrees from Northumbria University and Camden University for him to be appointed as a business consultant at Solid Transactions Sdn Bhd.

This prompted Sivam to hand over RM95,000 to him.

Sanjeevan was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment for up to 10 years and is also liable to whipping and fine, upon conviction.

Sanjeevan also claimed trial to an alternative charge with cheating Sivam into believing that he had law and business degrees from the same universities which prompted Sivam to appoint him as business consultant at the same company.

The alleged offence was committed at Cheras Leisure Mall, Taman Segar, Cheras here on June 1, 2013.

Deputy public prosecutor Noor Jazilah Mohd Yushaa, who prosecuted, offered bail at RM20,000.

Lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, representing Sanjeevan, said the bail amount requested by the prosecution was high and his client had three other charges which were on trial.

The magistrate then set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and fixed Oct 26 for mention.

Sanjeevan also claimed trial last month and earlier this month to three charges of extortion in Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama