A married couple was charged in the Ipoh sessions court today with 75 counts of unlicensed deposit-taking, promoting an unregistered investment scheme, and money laundering involving a total of more than RM52.89 million between 2016 and 2024.
Riza Ahmad Hambadley, 57, who is unemployed, and his wife, Wan Ziraiza Wan Ismail, 55, a lecturer at an educational institution in Perak, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case was jointly prosecuted by officers from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), Bank Negara Malaysia, and the money laundering crimes and forfeiture of proceeds of crimes unit of the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Under BNM’s charges, the couple faces four counts of receiving deposits from the public without a valid licence under Section 10 of the Financial Services Act 2013.
The offences were allegedly committed through Program Induk Kambing Baka Shami, a goat breeding investment scheme run by Pertubuhan Amal Kita Kinta Perak in Batu Gajah, between Nov 30, 2016 and July 15, 2023.
They face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50 million, or both, under Section 137(2) of the same Act, upon conviction.
Under SSM’s charges, Riza faces five counts under the Interest Schemes Act 2016 for promoting the same unregistered scheme, while Wan Ziraiza faces five counts of abetting him. The alleged offences took place between March 3, 2017 and Jan 7, 2021.
These charges, under Section 3(2)(b) and punishable under Section 3(3) of the Act, carry up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50 million, or both, if convicted.
The couple also faces 61 counts of money laundering involving RM52.89 million. They allegedly used proceeds from the scheme to purchase properties and vehicles in Perak between 2016 and 2024.
These charges fall under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of either RM5 million or five times the amount involved, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The prosecution did not object to the defence’s request for bail to be set at RM150,000 for Riza and RM100,000 for Wan Ziraiza.
The court granted bail of RM100,000 each with one surety and fixed Nov 4 for case mention and submission of documents.
