By : FMT STAFF
KOTA KINABALU: State Reform
Party (STAR) Chairman Jeffery Kitingan is facing criticism from within his
party after a candidate he named for the Klias state constituency seat was
charged with cheating.
The candidate, Jismit Japong, was charged in a magistrate court here on Thursday with cheating a man
by impersonating as Sekong Umno assemblyman who is also Ko-Nelayan chairman.
The mortifying blow comes
just three weeks after Jeffrey announced Jismit as the party’s candidate.
While Jismit pleaded not
guilty to the charge and magistrate Cindy McJuce Balitus set April 17-18 for
hearing of the case, Jeffrey’s colleagues in the party are questioning his
judgment and want him to be more thorough in checking the backgrounds of the
party’s potential candidates.
One divisional leader after
requesting anonymity, told FMT that the STAR chairman’s way of handling the
party matters especially on the selection of candidates was not going down well
with those around him.
He said the recent
development regarding Jismit proved that the STAR leadership needs to carefully
vet candidates’ current and previous records before shortlisting them and
announcing them as party candidates.
“We should have a foolproof
shortlist of candidates. Already our enemies are spreading lies that STAR
shortlisted candidates are also made up people of questionable integrity.
“We do not want to destroy
our hard-earned respect from the people,” he stressed.
Jismit was released on a
bail of RM5,000 in two local sureties.
The STAR leader was charged
on Thursday for cheating Wong Shui Kin, 72, of RM70,000 in Kota Kinabalu in
August 2012.
According to the charge
sheet, Jismit impersonated Shamsudin and offered Wong two development projects
to upgrade one road each in Kampung Gum-Gum, Sandakan and Merotai in Tawau,
Wong allegedly gave the
money to Jismit.
If convicted under Section
419 of the Penal Code, Jismit faces a jail sentence of up to seven years or
fine, or both.
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