SHAH ALAM: A former accountant of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) Sdn Bhd pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to nine counts of money laundering involving RM3.89 million, with another 60 charges expected to be brought against her tomorrow.
Hamimah Yakub, 73, entered her plea after each charge was read before Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.
She was accused of receiving RM3,618,527.86, believed to be proceeds from illegal activities, through transactions involving the bank accounts of an individual, a supermarket, and a private company.
She was also alleged to have transferred RM271,863.62, also suspected to be illicit proceeds, via four transactions into the bank accounts of GISB Mart, GISBH, and her own.
The alleged offences were committed at banks in Kulim, Kedah, and Bandar Baru Bangi between Jan 5, 2020, and Jan 29, 2021.
The charges, framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, carry a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the illegal proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Izham Mohd Marzuki, assisted by Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Affendi and P. Sangari, urged the court to set bail at RM1 million for all charges.
He also requested additional conditions: that the accused be barred from harassing prosecution witnesses, surrender her passport to the court, and report to the Bukit Aman police headquarters monthly.
Defence lawyer Datuk Rosli Kamaruddin, however, argued for the RM40,000 bail imposed on his client under a Section 130V Penal Code charge to be maintained.
“My client is a retiree and had previously served as GISB finance officer. She was no longer working with GISBH when the police investigation began.
“She has no income and is now financially dependent on her family.
“If an alternative bail is necessary, I request it be set at RM5,000,” he said.
Judge Awang Kerisnada granted temporary bail of RM5,000 pending the court’s decision on a final amount tomorrow.
“The prosecution has informed the court that the accused will be facing 60 additional charges tomorrow. Therefore, bail matters will be finalised then,” he said.
GISB chairman and chief executive officer Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, 66, along with two others, is also expected to be charged with money laundering tomorrow.
In February, Nasiruddin and Hamimah, as well as 20 others claimed trial to charges of being members of an organised criminal group.
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