KUALA LUMPUR: The Securities Commission (SC) has charged the director of Pixelvest Sdn Bhd, Sophia Chin, with money laundering offences involving more than RM164.5 million.
Chin was charged with 17 offences under section 4(1)(b) of the Anti- Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities 2001 for receiving proceeds from unlawful activities.
The SC said Chin received illegal proceeds in her personal bank accounts as well as in several companies of which she is a director/partner.
"These companies include Pinetree Field Sdn Bhd, SC Wealth Planners Sdn Bhd, Quarters Venture Sdn Bhd,New Straits Venture Sdn Bhd and Quarters Capital PLT.The alleged offenses took place between Dec 23, 2020 and Oct 2, 2022 in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. "The accused claimed trial to all the 17 charges preferred against her in two separate courts," it said in a statement.
Sessions Court Judge Datin Sabariah Othman granted bail at RM7 million with two sureties.
Chin was ordered to surrender her passport to the court and to report to the SC on a monthly basis until the completion of the trial.
In a separate court, Sessions Court Judge AzrulDarus also granted Chin bail at RM7 million with one surety.
He also imposed similar conditions on the passport surrender and reporting to SC.
"If convicted, the accused shall be liable to imprisonment for up to 15 years and shall also be liable to a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of the unlawful activities at the time the offence was committed or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
"The charges against Sophia Chin are a continuation of the SC's enforcement action relating to the same matter against two other individuals yesterday," it said.
On Jan 10, the SC charged the company's former director Dexter Ang, and Infinity Trustee Bhd's chief executive officer Syaiful Riezal Ahmad in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with 11 offences of money laundering involving over RM119 million.