EX-DATUK SERI IN DOCK OVER RM19M SCAM
Businessman, 38, accused of cheating a managing director in MACC’s RM6.3b Penang tunnel project probe
A38-YEAR-OLD former “Datuk Seri” believed to be linked to the Penang Undersea Tunnel Project was slapped with three counts of cheating a company managing director of RM19 million at the Sessions Court here yesterday.
Businessman M.G. Gnanaraja was alleged to have cheated the managing director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd into believing that he could settle a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into the RM6.3 billion tunnel project.
Gnanaraja, had on three occasions — twice in July 2017 and August the same year — alleged to have cheated the managing director into believing that he could help him close an investigation initiated by MACC under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceed of Crimes Act 2001.
On the first and third counts, Gnanaraja was accused of dishonestly inducing the managing director into delivering RM2 million cash in July 2017 and another RM2 million cash in August the same year at Eastin Hotel in Section 16, Petaling Jaya.
On the second count, Gnanaraja, on July 27, 2017 at CIMB Bank Bhd’s KLCC branch in Petronas Twin Towers, Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur, was believed to have dishonestly induced the managing director into delivering RM15 million to him, from a Maybank account belonging to Syarikat Vizione Construction Sdn Bhd to a CIMB Bank account belonging to Syarikat Bumi Muhibbah Capital Holding Sdn Bhd.
It was reported that Gnanaraja was subsequently arrested in February last year.
Gnanaraja pleaded not guilty to all the charges under Section 420 of the Penal Code that was read before judge Rozilah Salleh.
If found guilty, he faces an imprisonment not less than a year and not more than 10 years, whipping and liable to a fine.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar offered a bail of RM100,000 with one surety and requested for an additional condition for Gnanaraja’s passport to be impounded.
Gnanaraja’s counsel, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, did not object to the bail.
Geethan requested that his client’s passport be handed over to the court today as Gnanaraja did not bring his passport along with him.
Rozilah set bail at RM100,000 and ordered Gnanaraja’s passport to be impounded.
She fixed May 6 for mention.