Hoe Kian Lim from Bahau near here pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge Norma Ismail on Monday .
He allegedly committed the offence between Sept 16, 2020, and April 18, 2021, at a premises on Jalan Hospital in Ladang Geddes in Jempol where he provided a loan of RM474,000 to a 66-year-old individual. Hoe was charged under Section 5 of the Moneylenders Act 1951 which carries a fine of between RM250,000 and RM1mil or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Judge Norma then allowed the accused to be released on RM30,000 bail and fixed May 3 for next mention. Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Amirul Noor Hashimi prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.