15 claim trial to illegal remittance activities

JOHOR BARU: Fifteen people, including two women, were charged at the Sessions Court here yesterday with conducting overseas remittance activities amounting to RM1 billion without licence from Bank Negara Malaysia.

The 15, aged 23 to 59, claimed trial to each of the 43 separate charges for unlicensed remittance activities.

They were accused of committing the offences in different places, times and under different company names and accounts between 2012 and last year.

The charges were read in front of Sessions Court judge Mohammed Khaled Ab Karim.

Mohamed Thamimul Ansari, who was among the 15 people charged, faced 12 charges in two separate courts.

At one juncture, Tahmimul, who was represented by counsel Mahendra Mahason, asked the judge why there were so many charges against him and questioned the high bail imposed on him.

Khaled explained that it was up to the deputy public prosecutor to determine the number of charges.

“If you are not happy with the number of charges against you, there is nothing the court can do about it,” he said.

Khaled set bail of between RM80,000 and RM1 million for each of the 15 accused.

The court ordered all the accused to surrender their passports.

Bank Negara Malaysia deputy public prosecutors Alvin Ong and Steve Chin prosecuted.

Thamimul and nine of the accused were represented by defence counsel Mahendra Mahason.

The others were represented by counsel Rosli Kamaruddin and Yap Che Kai.

The court fixed May 4 for remention.