MALACCA: Two brothers-in-law who are business partners were charged yesterday with laundering a total of RM61 million.

The duo were Mohd Riezuan Jalil, 28, who faced 162 counts of money laundering amounting to RM45,026,063, and Basri Samsudin, 35, with 60 counts involving RM16,133,009.

Riezuan was alleged to have used money from illegal activities to repay loans he had taken to purchase a BMW 318i car and a double-storey semi-detached house in Taman Permatang Pasir Permai, Alai; to pay for the deposit in acquiring a three-storey shophouse in Taman Semabok Perdana, Semabok; to invest in CIMB Islamic Bank's Restricted Mudharabah Structured Investment Scheme; and to purchase a CIMB Bank floating rate negotiable instrument of deposit certificate, among others.

The offences were allegedly committed between Oct 1, 2006 and Feb 21, 2008, at the Public Bank branch and CIMB Bank branch in Taman Mutiara Melaka, Batu Berendam; Graha Peladang Maybank branch in Jalan Hang Tuah; and the premise of Tactical Plus Sdn Bhd in Malim Jaya Industrial Area, among others.

Basri was alleged to have used some of the money to invest in CIMB Islamic Bank's Restricted Mudharabah Structured Investment Scheme; to pay for the deposit in acquiring a BMW525 sedan and a double-storey semi-detached house in Taman Permatang Pasir Permai, Alai; and to purchase CIMB Bank's floating rate negotiable instrument of deposit certificate, HwangDBS global infrastructure fund units and Maybank income trust fund units.
The offences were allegedly committed between Feb 6, 2007 and Dec 14, 2007, at the HSBC Bank branch in Jalan Hang Tuah, CIMB Bank branch Taman Mutiara Melaka Batu Berendam, Graha Peladang Maybank branch in Jalan Hang Tuah and the premise of Seong Hoe Premium Motors Sdn Bhd in Jalan Semabok, among others.

Riezuan and Basri, both from Felda Palong in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, claimed trial on all counts.

Judge Zamri Bakar allowed them bail of RM1 million each and ordered them to surrender their travel documents.

Both accused were also told to present themselves to the court again on Nov 12 for re-mention. -- Bernama