KUALA LUMPUR: Grant Thornton Malaysia has refuted money laundering charges on its former managing partner Datuk C R Narendrakumar, known as NK Jasani.
In a statement, the company showed its support for NK Jasani amid the charges involving RM115 million.
"Grant Thornton Malaysia supports and stands by the actions of Datuk NK Jasani in his capacity as receiver and manager (R&M) of Sabah Forest Industries (SFI).
"We assure you that all services and operations of Grant Thornton Malaysia are unaffected and running, as usual, providing our best professional services to all our clients," it said.
NK Jasani was charged with money laundering under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
He was alleged to have committed the offence as R&M of SFI by transferring RM115 million, allegedly proceeds from illegal activities, from SFI's CIMB Current Account to SFI's CIMB interest-bearing fixed deposit account in February 2018.
The RM115 million comprised part of the RM120 million deposit paid by Pelangi Prestasi to purchase SFI assets for RM1.2 billion.
"The sale of SFI assets and the treatment of the deposit paid are matters that have been and are still pending legal proceedings before the civil courts.
"Dato NK Jasani will be defending the charges vigorously as he has always acted in the best interest of SFI for which he is the R&M, and in the best interest of SFI's creditors, in the usual course of an R&M's duty," said the company.
The charge provides imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times of proceeds from the unlawful activities, or RM5 million, whichever is higher if found guilty.