SHAH ALAM – Ex-Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and Internet of Things Institute (MARii) chief executive officer Datuk Mohamad Madani Sahari has pleaded not guilty to yet another nine corruption charges, this time for money laundering amounting to RM4 million.
Bernama reports the charges proffered at the sessions court here today, whereby Madani, 56, faces six counts of indirectly engaging in transactions involving proceeds of unlawful activities through the bank account of his lawyers, Norizan & Associates, via a letter of instruction to the accounts of several individuals and companies, amounting to RM750,000.
These charges are under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
For the other three charges, he was accused of making payment for legal fees amounting to RM250,000 and buying Islamic Redeemable Preference Shares Class F, amounting to RM3 million. These charges are under Section 4(1)b of AMLA,
All offences were allegedly committed at Hong Leong Bank Shah Alam branch and Trillion Cove Holdings Bhd, Subang Business Centre, Subang Jaya between July 10, 2021 and February 21, 2022.
If convicted, Madani faces a jail term of not more than 15 years and a fine no less than five times the amount of illegal proceeds, or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
Two days ago, Madani was charged in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court with soliciting a RM5 million bribe in 2021. The bribe was asked of one P. Kuhan Arunasalam to assist A2Z Technology Sdn Bhd to get a letter of award for a project valued at RM24 million.
Earlier, on April 14, at the Shah Alam High Court, he pleaded not guilty to bribery charges amounting to RM5 million, which he allegedly received two years ago from one Khow Chuen Wah to assist a company called Syarikat Aspire Knowledge Sdn Bhd to obtain a letter of award for a RM12 million project.
The earlier charges were under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
Deputy public prosecutors Muhammad Asraf Mohamed Akhir, Haresh Prakash Somiah and Nurul Atiqah Mohamad Alias prosecuted, while lawyers Rahmat Hazlan and Rahmat Abu Bakar represented the accused.
Today, Shah Alam sessions court judge Rozilah Salleh allowed the prosecution’s application to transfer the case to the Kuala Lumpur sessions court to be heard with the other charges against Madani, and for the bail to be tied to the RM300,000 that was imposed earlier on the accused by the Shah Alam Sessions Court.
The court set June 9 for mention. – The Vibes, May 10, 2023
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