Ex-exco, son and property consultant plead not guilty to money laundering charges

JOHOR BAHRU: Former Johor state executive council member (exco) Datuk Abd Latif Bandi, his son and a property consultant pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to 21 charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, involving RM35.78 million.

They made the plea after the charges were read out to them before judge Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nasir.

Abd Latif, 51, faced 13 charges, involving RM17.59 million, allegedly committed between Dec 11, 2013 and Dec 19 last year at several bank branches in Johor Bahru.

His son, Ahmad Fauzan Hatim Abd Latif, 25, was charged with four counts of money laundering involving RM735,000.

He was alleged to have committed the offence between July 18, 2018 and Dec 23, 2016 at a bank in Johor Jaya.

The property consultant, Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 44, was charged with four counts of money laundering, involving RM17.455 million.

The offence was committed between Nov 15, 2013 and Dec 14, 2016 at a bank in Larkin Perdana.

Mohd Fauzi set bail at RM500,000 in one surety on Abd Latif and bail of RM200,000 in one surety on Ahmad Fauzan Hatim.

Amir Shariffuddin was allowed bail of RM400,000 in one surety.

Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Mohd Asnawi Abu Anifah prosecuted, while Abd Latif and Ahmad Fauzan Hatim were represented by a panel of lawyers led by Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican.

Lawyer Asrul Z. Stork represented Amir Shariffuddin.

The court set July 5 for mention. - Bernama