KOTA BARU – Two businessmen were charged in the sessions court here today with six counts of money laundering involving RM849,484.35.
Muhammad Semail, 43, and Abu Yazid Mohd, 38, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges read out before judge Zaman Mohd Noor.
According to the charge sheet, Muhammad was charged with five counts over four pieces of land in Bachok and one in Pasir Puteh amounting to RM580,000, the proceeds of unlawful activities in the respective Land and District Offices between March 23, 2015 and September 12, 2020.
Abu Yazid was charged with one count of owning RM269,484.35 in a CIMB Bhd Bank account, also proceeds from unlawful activities at the ground floor of the Jalan Maju branch of CIMB here on July 1, 2021.
All the charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same act.
They face imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of proceeds of illegal activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Zaman allowed both the accused to apply for bail previously imposed by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court and for the case to be transferred to the court as both of them are charged with similar offences with two others.
Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Nik Hasline Hashim prosecuted, while both the accused were represented by lawyer Mohd Shukri Ahmad Mansor.
On March 10, the two businessmen were among five charged at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court with 81 counts of money laundering involving millions of ringgit.
The duo also face a total of 21 counts of money laundering involving millions of ringgit in connection with the issuance of temporary employment visit passes at the Shah Alam sessions court on March 11. – Bernama, March 14, 2022
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