Kuala lumpur: A businessman with the honorific title "Datuk" pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of cheating a woman out of RM500,000 seven years ago.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ridzuan Abdullah, 38, was accused of deceiving the 49-year-old woman by inducing her to transfer the money under the pretense of gaining profit from a floor coating business. The alleged offence took place at Jalan Air Molek 1, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, between January 1 and July 10, 2018.

The charge was brought under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which stipulates a prison term ranging from one year to a maximum of ten years, in addition to whipping and a fine, upon conviction.

Judge Norma Ismail granted Ridzuan bail set at RM15,000 with one surety. The conditions also included the surrender of his passport to the court and a requirement to report to a nearby police station once a month. The case is scheduled for mention on January 5 for the submission of documents.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurainizatul Farhana Zainal represented the prosecution, while lawyer Najib Zakaria defended the accused.