KUALA LUMPUR: "Tuhan Harun" sect leader Harun Mat Saat was sentenced to a total of 15 years' imprisonment by the Sessions Court here for four counts of illegally collecting deposits totalling RM35mil.
Sessions judge Norsharidah Awang handed down the decision on Friday after the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case.
Harun will serve only six years imprisonment because the judge instructed the sentences to run concurrently from the day of decision.
Harun, who had a stroke and is now wheelchair-bound, was accused of assisting Business Time Dina Sdn Bhd, Pan Phoenix Dina Sdn Bhd and Pan-Phoenix Dina Steel Sdn Bhd to receive RM35mil in deposits from the public without a licence.
The offence took place at Wisma MPL and Wisma Goldhill in Jalan Raja Chulan, here, between Sept 13, 2006, and April 8, 2008.
He was charged under Section 25(1) of the Banking and Financial Institutions Act, 1989.
Harun's lawyer Hermesmediaputra Ibrahim, in asking for leniency, said his client was now jobless and has many children.
DPP Mohd Shukri Ahmad Mansor urged the court to mete out a sentence that would serve a lesson to others because many people were victimised.
