Director denies RM5.9mil money laundering charges
IPOH: A construction company director claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to 55 counts of money laundering involving RM5.9mil.
Lee Ming Chai, 49, allegedly received the illicit proceeds from GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd through three accounts belonging to his company – Malayan Banking Berhad, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad and CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad.
He is accused of committing the offences in Sitiawan and Manjung, Perak as well as Melaka, between January 2011 and November 2017.
The charges framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (Act 613) and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, carries a jail sentence of not more than 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher.
Lee is also accused of nine charges of furnishing false details in Form 32A, a document related to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
He allegedly used the documents at three separate locations: SSM Perak branch; Public Bank, Sitiawan branch; and OCBC Bank Malaysia Berhad in Teluk Intan in 2005.
The charges framed under Section 471 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 465 of the Penal Code carries a jail sentence of up to two years or a fine or both, on conviction.
Judge Norashima Khalid set RM1mil bail with one surety and Jan 18 for remention. The accused was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court and report to the nearest police station monthly.
Deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim represented the prosecution in the 55 charges, and DPP Muhammed Fauzi Md Yusof in the nine charges.
Lee was represented by counsel Andrew Yee – Bernama