A part-time project manager pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today to 68 counts of money laundering involving more than RM688,000.
R Vikram Menon, 46, entered his plea after all charges were read before judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.
He is accused of transferring and disposing of illicit funds totalling RM688,916.85 between Oct 17, 2023, and Oct 15, 2024, in Damansara.
The offences allegedly involved 301 transactions to 67 bank accounts for fund transfers, and 159 transactions for online and cash disposals ranging from RM1,000 to over RM90,000.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla), which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the illicit proceeds or RM5 million – whichever is higher – upon conviction.
The court set bail at RM70,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to surrender his passport, report to the Sungai Buloh police headquarters at the start of every month, and refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses.
The next case mention was fixed for Oct 13.
Ex-accountant charged with money laundering
A former accountant at the early childhood education company Little Caliphs International Sdn Bhd was charged at the Shah Alam sessions court today with six counts of money laundering involving RM216,478.
Rafidah Basar, 29, pleaded not guilty before judge Anas Mahadzir.
On the first charge, she is accused of transferring RM162,000 in illegal proceeds from her CIMB Bank account to her Maybank Islamic account after deceiving a person into believing the money was intended for the company’s zakat payment.
She also faces five counts of receiving RM54,478 in criminal proceeds into her Maybank Islamic and CIMB accounts after similarly deceiving the same person.
The offences were allegedly committed at CIMB and Maybank Islamic branches in Shah Alam between Aug 30, 2023 and March 4, 2024.
She was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of Amla.
The court set bail at RM12,000 with two sureties for all charges and imposed an order prohibiting contact with prosecution witnesses. The case has been fixed for mention on Oct 6.
