SHAH ALAM: The chief executive officer (CEO) of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, and the company’s three former accountants pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Wednesday (Sept 10) to 264 charges of money laundering involving more than RM40mil from 2020 to 2024.
Nasiruddin, 66, Hamimah Yakub, 73, Asmat @ Asmanira Muhammad Ramly, 45, and Asmat’s husband, Mohd Khushairi Osman, 54, made the plea after all the charges were read separately, for over five hours before the judge, Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud, reported Sinar Harian.
Based on the breakdown, Nasiruddin was charged with 109 charges involving a total value of RM14mil, while Hamimah (60 cases), Asmanira (41 cases – RM5mil) and Mohd Khushairi (54 cases – RM20.3mil).
According to all the charges, they are accused of receiving and transferring proceeds from illegal activities involving 10 accounts belonging to the accused, GISB Mart Sdn Bhd, GISB Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd, and a childcare centre in Bandar Baru Bangi, Rawang and Subang Perdana between 2020 and 2024.
During the proceedings, the prosecution led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Affendi, Mohd Izham Mohd Marzuki and P Sangari stated that the charges were categorised as non-bailable cases.
However, they said that if the court decides to exercise its discretion to grant bail, they suggested that each accused be granted bail at RM50,000 with one surety.
Additional conditions include surrendering their passports to the court, reporting monthly to the police at Bukit Aman, and refraining from contacting prosecution witnesses.
Meanwhile, the lawyer, Datuk Rosli Kamaruddin, who represented all the accused, pleaded for his client to be given low bail on the grounds of incapacity.
He stated that the majority of members associated with GISBH, including the four accused, had undergone rehabilitation and schemes under the Malaysian Islamic Development Department, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, and the National Security Council.
After hearing applications from all parties, the judge, Awang Kerisnada,allowed Hamimah and Asmanira to be bailed at RM20,000 while Mohd Khushairi at RM25,000 with two sureties each.
“No bail was allowed for Nasiruddin since the accused was arrested for a case under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or SOSMA,” said the judge.
He then fixed the re-mention of the case on Nov 6 and 24.
On Tuesday (Sept 9), Hamimah was charged with nine charges of money laundering worth RM3.89mil, including from personal bank accounts belonging to a supermarket and a company, respectively.
The court allowed temporary bail of RM5,000 for this charge only to prevent the accused from being arrested.