KUALA LUMPUR: Three individuals, including a married couple involved in the abduction of a Palestinian last year, were brought to court today on RM250,000 worth of money laundering charges.
Nidarahayu Zainal, 35, her husband Raibafie Amdan, 40, and Tengku Arif Bongsu Tengku Hamid, 40, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before Sessions Court Judge Kafli Che Ali.
According to the charge sheet, Nidarahayu was charged with 17 counts of transferring RM20,650.86 of illicit proceeds from her bank account near CIMB Bank Taman Maluri branch between Sept 15 and Oct 3, last year.
She also faces 13 similar charges of transferring RM184,985.46 of illicit proceeds to four companies and eight individuals at the same place and time.
She was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
It carries a maximum jail term of 15 years, a fine not less than five times the sum of the illegal activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
Meanwhile, Raibafie and Tengku Arif Bongsu were charged with receiving RM30,350 and RM25,000, respectively, from a company and Nidarahayu's account between Sept 29 and Oct 2, last year.
Deputy public prosecutor Rozaliana Zakaria asked the court to impose RM100,000 bail against Nidarahayu; and RM50,000 each for Raibafie and Tengku Arif.
Counsel Goh Kim Lian who appeared for Tengku Arif Bongsu pleaded for minimum bail.
The married couple who were unrepresented also pleaded for minimum bail by stating that they needed to support their three children.
The court set RM60,000 bail against Nidarahayu and RM20,000 each for the other two accused.
However, the trio is now under police custody as they have been denied bail for the kidnapping case, which is still awaiting trial.
The court fixed Nov 20 for mention.
On Oct 14, last year, the three are among 11 suspects charged with kidnapping a Palestinian Omar ZM Al-Belbaisy Raeda at Jalan Mayang here on Sept 28.
The victim was allegedly kidnapped to force him to deactivate computer software and hack into mobile phones.
They were charged under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act which carries the death sentence or life imprisonment.
Police said they had arrested 18 people in various locations in the Klang Valley in connection with the abduction of a Palestinian man in the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng area.