Former MRCA youth leader charged with money laundering

KUALA LUMPUR: A former youth leader of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of money laundering, involving RM5,300, two years ago.
Datuk Lee Kim Hock, 35, was charged with disposing off RM1,300, in proceeds from unlawful activities,through a check from his RHB bank account as payment to an individual.
He was also charged with directly being involved in the transaction of proceeds from unlawful activities by acquiring RM4,000 though a check.
Both the offences were allegedly committed at Taman Midah branch RHB Bank, Jalan Midah 1, Cheras here on Feb 4, 2016.
The charge, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, provides an imprisonment for up to 15 years and is liable to fine of not less than five times the sum or value of proceeds from the unlawful activity, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Idamasliza Maarof, proposed that the court used the RM7,000 bail with one surety imposed by the Petaling Jaya Session Court last Oct 3, if Lee's lawyer, Manjit Singh, did not object.
Idamasliza also requested the case to be transferred to the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court, where the accused had another case, because it would involve the same witnesses.
Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail allowed all the prosecution's applications and set Nov 7 for mention.
Last Oct 3, Lee and his wife, Zhong Pei Ling, 32, pleaded not guilty to a charge with criminal breach of trust, involving RM69,047 which belonged to the company last year. — Bernama