KUALA LUMPUR (March 15): Former Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Mohammad Lan Allani was on Tuesday (March 15) charged again with two counts of money laundering involving RM10 million in total, this time at the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court.
He claimed trial to both charges before Justice Abu Bakar Manat. The charges were made under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Unlawful Activity Act (AMLATFPUA).
Mohammad Lan, who was formerly Sulabayan assemblyman, is charged with money laundering for transferring RM3 million from a private banking portfolio CIMB account 1016-0000064-050 that he owns to a current account in CIMB Bank number 1016-0000085-054 that he also owns that are allegedly proceeds of unlawful activity.
He also faces a second money-laundering charge for transferring RM7 million from the same private banking portfolio CIMB account that he owns to a CIMB fixed deposit account in CIMB that he also owns at 003907-10, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
Both transactions were made at CIMB Bank, first floor, Jalan Segunting, Central building in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 10, 2012. He faces a maximum RM5 million fine or a jail sentence of up to five years or both if convicted.
The prosecution is led by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Allan Suman Pillai, and assisted by DPP Haresh Prakash Somiah and DPP Mohd Shahrom Idris.
Mohammad Lan is represented by lawyer Luke Ressa Balang.
Justice Abu Bakar granted Mohammad Lan bail at RM100,000 with one surety.
On Jan 10, Mohammad Lan was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal at the KL Sessions Court on similar charges as prosecutors told the court that he would be charged again in Kota Kinabalu.
Prior to this, Mohamad Lan was also charged with 20 counts of corruption amounting to RM20.45 million involving property deals in Melbourne, Australia.
All the offences were allegedly committed at several locations, including at the Maybank Mont Kiara Branch and Solaris Mont Kiara Kuala Lumpur between September 2012 and July 26, 2013, and at CIMB Bank, Jalan Sagunting, Central Building, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Dec 10, 2012.
He was charged under Sections 16(a) and 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009, which carry a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.