KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — A businessman convicted of money-laundering involving more than RM2.5 million, has failed to overturn his six-year jail sentence imposed by the Sessions Court in April last year.
High Court judge Kamardin Hashim dismissed Wong Pei Hur’s appeal against the conviction and sentence, but allowed his application for stay pending appeal to the Appeals Court but maintained bail at RM1.5 million with two sureties.
Kamardin said that after perusing submissions by the appellant and respondent (prosecution), there was no merit to disturb the decision of the lower court.
Wong, 40, was sentenced to between three months and two years jail for each of the 20 charges of money-laundering, to be served concurrently, and four years’ jail each for two counts of illegal deposit-taking, also to be served concurrently.
The offences were committed at several banks, including Malayan Banking Berhad and UOB Bank Berhad here, between 2007 and 2008.
During the trial at the lower court, prosecutors had informed the court that assets allegedly secured by Wong from his illegal activities amounting to RM2 million had been been forfeited by Bank Negara.
Wong was represented by counsel Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal while the prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutors Asmah Musa and Nurshuhaida Zainal Azahar. – Bernama
