Sunday, September 14, 2008

December date for RM23.3m money laundering case

Monday September 15, 2008 MYT 2:05:04 PM

December date for RM23.3m money laundering case

By CHRISTINA KOH

IPOH: The Sessions Court has fixed Dec 15 to re-mention two money laundering cases involving two directors of G-Gold Gallery Sdn Bhd.

Judge Hashim Hamzah fixed the date in the case of Benny Khoo Ban Sean, 62, who had claimed trial to 94 charges involving RM23.3mil between March 2005 and April 2006 here.

In another Sessions court, judge Rasidah Chik fixed Dec 15 to mention the case of director Daniel Choong Yew Chee, 40, who also pleaded not guilty to 94 counts of money laundering involving RM23.3mil.

In both courts, lawyer P. Kumaran asked for the cases to be postponed after noting the absence of DPP Budiman Lufti Mohamed and that fellow counsel Gurbachan Singh was making representations to review the charges.

On June 19, Khoo had claimed trial to the charges here while on June 23, Choong also denied committing the offences.

Both men were separately charged with transferring the proceeds of unlawful activities from the company’s bank account to their own.

Each was similarly charged with transferring such money from the company’s bank account to Genius Talent Sdn Bhd, Lin Shoon Jewellers Sdn Bhd, P.S. Bullion Sdn Bhd and Top Gold Resources Sdn Bhd during that time.

Khoo was also said to have transferred part of the RM23.3mil to the hire purchase accounts of two cars and Choong’s account while cash was apparently given to one J. Subramaniam.

Choong was alleged to have transferred part of the RM23.3mil to the hire purchase accounts of two cars and handed cash to Subramaniam.

The two directors face a maximum RM5mil fine or five years’ jail, or both, for each charge under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

Both men are out on RM1mil bail each with one surety.

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