MACC nabs businessman over money-laundering
KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman, G. Gnanaraja, 38, was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in connection with a money-laundering probe yesterday.
MACC said the arrest was made at its headquarters in Putrajaya at 11.40am after they received permission from the Attorney-General’s Chamber.
The anti-graft agency said Gnanaraja would face several charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 at the Sessions Court today.
On Wednesday, Gnanaraja had pleaded not guilty to accepting money to resolve an MACC investigation.
He was charged with three counts of cheating a company managing director of RM19 million at the Shah Alam Sessions Court.
He was alleged to have cheated the managing director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd into believing that he was able to settle an MACC investigation into the RM6.3 billion Penang undersea mega-tunnel project.
Gnanaraja, had on three occasions — twice in July and once in August 2017 — was alleged to have cheated the managing director into believing that he could help close the MACC investigation.
On the first and third count, Gnanaraja was accused of dishonestly inducing the managing director into delivering RM2 million in July 2017 and another RM2 million in August the same year at Eastin Hotel in Section 16, Petaling Jaya.
On the second count, Gnanaraja, on July 27, 2017, was believed to have dishonestly induced the managing director into delivering RM15 million to him at CIMB Bank Berhad’s KLCC branch in Jalan Ampang.