SHAH ALAM: Two Aman Palestin Berhad top brass and a company director were slapped with 126 charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering totalling more than RM39 million of the company's funds today.
Aman Palestin chairman Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman and chief executive officer Awang Sufian Awang Piut pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before Sesssions Court judge Datuk Anita Harun.
The court took more than two hours to read the charges before the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to all offences.
Abdullah Zaik and Awang Sufian were each charged with 52 counts of criminal breach of trust where the duo as directors of Samudra Champa Sdn Dhd were entrusted with control over the property of Aman Palestin and committed criminal breach of trust amounting to RM20,946,498.80 between March 12, 2018, and Nov 3, last year.
The offence falls under Section 409 of the Penal Code which carries an imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than 20 years and with whipping and also a fine, upon conviction.
The duo was also jointly charged with 19 counts of deceitfully deceiving the trustees of Aman Palestin Berhad into handing over cash amounting to RM39,150,000 to Samudra Champa for the purchase of gold weighing 131 kilogrammes, whereas the actual purchase price of the gold was only RM33,399,970 between Sept 24, 2021, and July 14, last year.
They were charged under Section 402 of the same Code which carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years, caning and a fine, upon conviction.
Abdullah Zaik and Awang Sufian as their capacity of Samudra Champa directors are also facing 19 charges of money laundering involving RM12,833,772.16, respectively, to purchase luxury vehicles, shop lots, factory warehouses, and plots of land nationwide.
Meanwhile, another Samudra Champa director Khairudin Mohd Ali is facing three similar charges amounting to RM6,038,016.60 to purchase shop lots and factory warehouses.
They were charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001.
The offence under AMLATFPUAA carries a jail term not exceeding 15 years' and a fine of at least five times the sum obtained from money laundering or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted while counsel Siti Mardhiyyah Zamani appeared for the accused.
Akram told the court that both parties agreed for the bail amount to be set at RM1 million each with one surety against Abdullah Zaik and Awang Sufian.
Akram said RM500,000 will be deposited today while the remaining will be submitted within a month.
He also asked the accused to surrender their passport until the disposal of the case.
On Jan 8, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the investigation into Aman Palestin focused on the company's expenditure, including the establishment expenses of several companies.
Azam said MACC's probe also covered Aman Palestin's gold bullion investments and alleged disbursement of funds distributed to aid recipients in several middle east countries such as Palestine and Syria.