KUANTAN, Oct 29 — Four durian farmers were charged in the Sessions Court here today with 10 counts of money laundering involving nearly RM560,000 derived from the sale of durians cultivated without proper authorisation since last year.
Lai Seng Wah, 44, Chin Swee Heung, 53, Chua Seng Wen, 64, and Tong Thin Fook, 60, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read separately before Judge Sazlina Safie.
Lai was charged with two counts of acquiring proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM40,245, allegedly from the sale of durians grown on land without state approval in Sungai Klau, Raub, between July 25, 2024, and April 15 this year.
Chin faced five similar charges involving RM48,774 at the same location between July 27, 2024, and August 29 this year.
Meanwhile, Chua was charged with acquiring proceeds totalling RM15,945 in Sungai Klau, Raub, between July 11 and August 12, while Tong faced two charges involving RM454,365 in Sungai Ruan, Raub, between July 4, 2024, and October 7 this year.
All four men were charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the amount involved, upon conviction.
Earlier, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor Ezuain Farhana Ahmad proposed bail between RM20,000 and RM50,000 for each accused, with additional conditions to report monthly to the MACC office, surrender their passports to the court, and refrain from contacting witnesses until the case concludes.
Lawyer Muhammad Amirull Afiqq Mohamad Lokman, representing all four accused, appealed for minimal bail, citing that his clients were supporting their respective families.
The court granted bail of RM20,000 for each accused with the additional conditions as proposed by the prosecution and set December 9 for mention of the case. — Bernama
