KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) youth chief Datuk Lee Kim Hock was charged at the Sessions Court with two counts of money laundering totalling more than RM5,000.
Lee pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Arifin Ismail.
The 35-year-old businessman was charged with disposing RM1,300 which was proceeds from illegal acitivity through a cheque to Chan Kin Siong, 43, at RHB Bank, No 18 & 20, Jalan Midah Satu, Taman Midah on Feb 4, 2016.
He was also accused of a similar offence involving RM4,000 which he allegedly committed at the same place and at the same time.
The offence falls under Section 4(1)(b) of the the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities 2001 which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years imprisonment and fine of not less than five times the amount involved, or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor Idamasliza Maarof asked the court to use the RM7000 existing bail that was granted to him by a Petaling Jaya Sessions Court.
She also asked for the court to transfer the case to Petaling Jaya as both cases involved the same witnesses and documents.
The accused was charged at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for a criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code on Oct 3.
Lawyer Manjit Singh, who represented the accused, did not object.
The court allowed the requests and fixed Nov 7 for mention.