Feardaus Khairuddin pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.

The 50-year-old was charged with cheating two men, aged 58 and 54, into handing over RM5 million in connection with a project to design and construct a purported “Northern Expressway Alternative Road”.

The highway was supposed to run from Padang Besar in Perlis to Changkat Jering in Perak, passing through Bukit Kayu Hitam, Jitra, Padang Terap, Teloi and Kulim.

He was said to have committed the offence at a house in Seri Kembangan, Kajang between Nov 4 and 9, 2022, Berita Harian reported.

Feardaus is also accused of cheating one of the men on the payment of sales and service tax for the project, amounting to RM500,000, at a bank branch in Kajang on Dec 13, 2023.

The charges were framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine if convicted.

The court fixed bail at RM50,000 with one surety and ordered the accused not to contact any of the witnesses, whether directly or through a third party.

Deputy public prosecutor Aida Khairuleen Azli handled the prosecution while lawyer RL Paniercelvan acted for the accused.

The court also fixed Sept 27 for case re-mention.