SHAH ALAM: Court interpreters took more than five hours to read out a total of 273 money laundering charges involving RM43.9 million against Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings chairman and chief executive officer Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, along with three former company accountants, today.
The charges were read during proceedings before Sessions Court Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud, which began at 10am.
Two interpreters took turns reading the charge sheets, with only a brief 20-minute break for Zohor prayers.
Nasiruddin, 66, faced 109 counts involving RM14 million for allegedly receiving and transferring the money to various parties, while Hamimah Yakub, 73, was hit with 69 charges amounting to RM4.6 million.
Asmat@Asmanira Muhammad Ramly, 45, and her husband, Mohd Khushairi Osman, 54, were served with 41 charges involving RM5 million and 54 charges totalling RM20.3 million, respectively.
All four pleaded not guilty to the charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of illegal proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The charges allege that they received money believed to be proceeds from illegal activities in their bank accounts before transferring various sums, some exceeding RM1 million per transaction, to 10 account holders.
The alleged transactions took place at several banks in Shah Alam, Kajang, Rawang, and Puchong between 2020 and last year.
Nasiruddin, who arrived in a wheelchair, was seated near the lawyers’ table while the charges were read and his pleas recorded.
His lawyer, Datuk Rosli Kamaruddin, told the court that Nasiruddin suffers from multiple chronic illnesses and requested that he remain in the wheelchair throughout proceedings.
Deputy public prosecutors Mohd Izham Mohd Marzuki, Megat Mahathir Megat Tharih Affendi, and P. Sangari sought bail of RM50,000 with two sureties for each accused.
They also requested additional conditions: that the accused be barred from harassing witnesses, report monthly to the Bukit Aman police Anti-Money Laundering Unit, and surrender their passports.
Rosli, however, asked for bail to be set at RM20,000 each, arguing that Hamimah and Asmat had already been granted RM40,000 bail in a separate case under Section 130V of the Penal Code for alleged involvement in an organised criminal group.
He added that Khushairi and Asmat support their family through income from pasar malam sales.
“They are not flight risks and have cooperated fully with the police,” he said.
Awang Kerisnada granted Hamimah and Khushairi bail at RM25,000 each, while Asmat was granted RM20,000 bail. Each is required to provide two sureties residing in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor.
The judge also ordered the trio to report to the Bukit Aman Anti-Money Laundering Unit in the first week of every month, refrain from harassing witnesses, and surrender their passports.
Nasiruddin is currently being held under remand at Sungai Buloh Prison pending trial for a separate charge of membership in an organised criminal group.
The case was set for mention on Nov 6 and 24.
Other lawyers included Muhammad Zaim Rosli, Boestamam Ahmad, and Dorina Abdullah.
In February, Nasiruddin, Hamimah, Asmat, and 19 others claimed trial to charges of being members of an organised criminal group.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
