KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer who is alleged to have misappropriated RM2,568,998.27 for payments to her credit cards, several individuals, and for a Mercedes Benz E240 was slapped today with 22 counts of money-laundering.
Jaswinder Kaur Gurbachan Singh, 46, who was a partner of law firm Jaswinder Gill & Associates, claimed trial to the offences before judge Rushan Lutfi Mohamed at the Ampang sessions court here.
She is accused of acquiring the money via cheques worth between RM3,400 and RM622,675.47, which were gained from illegal proceeds from the firm's current account.
Jaswinder is also accused of transferring RM161,100 and obtaining RM426,000 which were also proceeds from illegal activities from the same account.
She is alleged to have committed the offences at Hong Leong Bank Berhad, Semenyih branch, at Jalan Pasar Baru 2, Seksyen 3, Bandar Semenyih, between Sept 14, 2015 and Dec 20 of the same year.
Her charge under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 years, and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from illegal activities, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Meanwhile, a friend of Jaswinder, consultant K. James, 52, was also charged in the same court with using RM43,000 in proceeds from illegal activities to purchase a Mercedes Benz S280 the same year.
James claimed trial to the offence under the same Section.
His alleged offence was committed at Prominent Automobile, Lot 8B, Jalan Kepong Desa Jaya, Kepong, on Sept 25, 2015.
Rushan allowed RM300,000 bail for Jawinder, while James was allowed RM10,000 bail with one surety.
The judge also allowed deputy public prosecutor Atiqah Liyana Shahrir's application for the duo's cases to be transferred to the Kajang sessions court for a joint-trial with their cheating charges.
Both the accused, who were represented by counsel Datuk C. Vignesh, had previously been charged in the Kajang cessions court with cheating, on May 26, last year.
Their case will be up for mention on March 10.