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Kota Kinabalu: Former Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd Chairman Datuk Mohammad Lan Allani was charged with two counts of money laundering involving RM10 million.

Mohammad Lan, who was also former Sulabayan Assemblyman, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat, to both charges, Tuesday.

On the first and second, Mohammad Lan is accused of transferring RM3 million and RM7 million, respectively, from his CIMB Bank Private Banking Portfolio account to his CIMB Bank current account and Cimb fixed savings account.

The charges stated that the money was believed to be the proceeds from illegal activities. The offence allegedly took place at the CIMB Bank Jalan Sagunting, Central Building, here, on Dec 10, 2012.

The offence under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 provides for a fine of up to RM5 million, or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction.

The court set June 30 for mention and offered Mohammad Lan bail of RM100,000 in a local surety.

There was no additional conditions imposed on Mohammad Lan as his passport was already impounded when he was charged with corruption at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, last year.

Earlier, the prosecution informed the court that Mohammad Lan had been charged in Kuala Lumpur and they did not asked for any conditions to be imposed on him for the two charges but proposed bail of RM100,000.

Counsel Luke Ressa Balang who represented Mohammad Lan said he had no objection to the proposed bail amount and asked for one local surety.

The prosecution was led by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Allan Suman Pillai, and assisted by DPP Haresh Prakash Somiah and DPP Mohd Shahrom Idris.

It was reported that Mohammad Lan was charged in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with 20 counts of corruption amounting to RM20.45 million involving property deals in Melbourne, Australia. He claimed trial to all the charges.

Meanwhile, an assistant Chief Secretary of a government agency claimed trial to 29 counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM1.29 million for service work from two companies.

Abel Ongkunik, 49, a former director of Sabah Port and Harbour Department (JPDS), made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat.

On the first to 29 counts, Abel is accused of accepting the money while as JPDS Director from the two companies as an inducement for giving permission for towing services at Kimanis port limitation area in 2018 and to approve licences for towing works for another company between August 28, 2017 and July 2, 2018.

The charges stated that the money was banked into the three companies’ bank accounts in which Abel had access to at several bank branches in the city areas, Lido and Kota Belud.

The offence under Section 17 (a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same Act which provides for an imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or not less than five times the amount of the bribe, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

The court set April 29 for mention and Abel was released on bail of RM100,000 bail with RM30,000 deposited in a local surety.

Abel was also ordered to report twice a month to MACC’s office and his passport if any, to be impounded by the court.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nartiah F. M Sambatan appeared for the prosecution while counsels P.J Perira, Ariel Dasan and Dominic Chew, defended Abel.

In a separate case, the Director of a private college claimed trial to 21 counts of submitting false claims amounting to RM369,000. Marsam Buhera made the plea before Sessions Court Judge Abu Bakar Manat, when all the charges against him were read, Tuesday.

On the first to 21 charges, Marsam who was also Managing Director of Infoteguh Sdn Bhd, which owned Kolej Eastern, is accused of submitting the claim documents containing false invoices, list of the participants, participant attendance forms and participant allowance receipt forms.

Marsam allegedly submitted the claim documents for the Kolej Eastern’s three programmes namely, computer network operation, office management and supervisor and office management.

The charges stated that the participants were not enough and the participants present never received allowance.

The offence allegedly took place between January 2018 and August 2018 at the Unit Perancang Ekonomi Sabah, here.

The offence, under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, provides imprisonment of up to 20 years and fine of up to five times the value of the false claims, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.

The court set April 29 for mention and Marsam was released on a bail of RM20,000 with RM10,000 in a local surety.

Marsam was also ordered to report to MACC’s office once a month. MACC Prosecuting Officer Dzulkarnain Rousan Hasbi appeared for the prosecution while counsel Luqman Syazwan Zabidi who stood in for counsel Farazwin Haxdy, representing Marsam.