SHAH ALAM, Nov 3 — Three directors of a book publishing company were charged in two Sessions Courts here today on eight counts of money laundering amounting to RM10.2 million.
Wan Asri Wan Hassan, 44, Mohd Azizi Mahusin, 45, and Muhammad Ghazali Abdul Majid, 40, of Zilerie Global Sdn Bhd, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to them separately before Judge Rozilah Salleh and Judge Asmadi Hussin.
Wan Asri and Mohd Azizi each faced three and one charge respectively, while before Judge Asmadi, Muhammad Ghazali faced four charges.
Wan Asri was charged with receiving RM100,000 through a cheque belonging to Messrs Alira & Co; RM1.34 million through five cheques in the name of Ri Bina Niaga and RM1.26 million through five cheques in the name of Kunci Niaga.
Mohd Azizi was charged with receiving RM1.25 million through three cheques belonging to Messrs Alira & Co.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Ghazali was charged with engaging in transactions involving the proceeds of illegal activities, that is giving instructions to transfer RM1.975 million into the account of Mega Solution Advertising through four cheques and RM1.525 million into the account of Mega Bina Resources through five cheques.
Muhammad Ghazali is also charged with receiving RM540,000 through three cheques and giving instructions for the acquisition Zilerie Global’s money totalling RM2,243,125.20 in a Malayan Banking account belonging to Messrs Alira & Co.
The three accused were charged with committing the offences at Malayan Banking Berhad, Ground Floor, Aeon Mall Shah Alam, No: 1, Jalan Aquatic 13/64, Section 13 here, between March 17 and Aug 15.
The court released Wan Asri on bail of RM100,000 with one surety for all three charges, Mohd Azizi on bail of RM40,000 with one surety and Muhammad Ghazali on bail of RM150,000 with one surety for all four charges.
Judge Rozilah also allowed the prosecution’s application that the three accused be tried together considering all the cases involved the same accounts and witnesses.
She also fixed Dec 2 for remention.
Prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah, while Muhammad Ghazali and Mohd Azizi were represented by counsel Mohd Hisham Mohd Nen and Wan Asri was represented by counsel Datuk Syed Azimal Amir Syed Abu Bakar.
MACC had before this arrested the three accused to facilitate investigations into the misappropriation of funds in publication of books worth almost RM15 million in August.
Also detained was Bank Rakyat chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal and its managing director Datuk Mustafha Abd Razak.
On Sept 7, Abdul Aziz and Mustafha were charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with criminal breach of trust and abetment respectively, involving RM14,991,283.20.
They, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to them separately before Judge Madihah Harullah. — Bernama
