Deputy director, two wives charged
KOTA KINABALU: State Railway Department Public Engineering head and his two wives claimed trial at the Corruption Court here yesterday to their separate as well as their joint money laundering charges involving RM2,199,739.
Ismail Ahmad, 59, and his spouses Muhilim@Masniah Buaya@ Buayie, 58 and Runtiah Rais, 42, who appeared before judge Abu Bakar Manat, face 13, six and nine charges respectively, all under the Anti-Money Laundering, and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Amlatfapua) Act 2001.
Each of the charge is punishable by a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of up to five times the amount involved or RM5 million or whichever amount is higher, upon conviction.
The first to eighth charges against Ismail stated that he had in his three bank accounts RM97,135.98, RM32,475.94, RM12,070.84, RM102,462.92, RM522,481.44, RM110,038.21, RM127,725.76 and RM140,427.66, where three of the bank accounts were under the names of other persons, with Ismail allegedly as their registered guardian.
The eight alleged offences were committed at three bank branches in the city and in Putatan between January 23 and 24, 2018.
The three charges against Muhilim accused her of possessing RM12,070.88, RM49,137.40 and RM22,445.05 in her two bank accounts at two bank branches in the city, on January 23, 2018.
Runtiah faces seven charges which alleged that she possessed RM90,549.06, RM99,765.58, RM67,521.44, RM65,829.11, RM61,078.85, RM35,160.85 and RM44,885.45 in her six bank accounts, with four of the accounts under the names of persons whom Runtiah is allegedly their registered guardian.
The alleged offences were committed at the bank branches in the city and in Putatan, between January 23, 2018 and April 18.
Ismail and Muhilim also face three joint charges of possessing RM19,584.37, RM42,531.16 and RM141,936.48 in their bank accounts at a bank branch in the city, on January 23, 2018.
On the other hand, Ismail and Runtiah face two joint charges that accuse them of having RM72,318.95 and RM16,778.78 in their bank accounts at two bank branches in the city, on January 23, 2018.
The court released Ismail on bail of RM100,000 with RM50,000 to be deposited while his wives were granted RM50,000 bail each, for all their charges, with one local surety each of the accused persons.
The court allowed them to pay their bails in installments, which must be settled on or before April 29.
Apart from that, the court also ordered the three accused persons to report once a month, which is on or before the 7th of every month, at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s office, pending disposal of their cases, and their international passports to be impounded by the court.
The trio were also ordered not to have contact with any prosecution witnesses throughout the trial.
The court fixed June 19 for pre-trial case management of all the cases.
Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat from Putrajaya Kuala Lumpur prosecuted while the three accused persons were represented by counsel Wotti Junius.