MELAKA: The former special officer to the mayor here was today served with a total 15 charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court.
Datuk Mohd Yusof Abu Hasan, popularly known as Yusof Soros, arrested by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC) yesterday evening, pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges filed by deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz before Judge Norma Ismail.
Yusof, who arrived accompanied by supporters at 10.45am, faces four charges of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code and 11 charges under the Anti Money Laundering and Anti Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
The four charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code, each carry a maximum jail term of 20 years with whipping and a fine.
Each of the 11 charges under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act 2001 carries a maximum jail term of 15 years, whipping and a fine of five times the amount involved or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The graft charges involve a total sum of RM19,388,074.87, of which RM8,188,074.87 were transactions under allegations of money laundering, while another RM11.2 million are transactions under CBT allegations.
All transactions were committed at four banks in the Melaka Raya area and at the Malim Business Park between Feb 23 and Aug 23 last year.
Yusof was represented by counsel Azrul Zulkifli Stork and Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat.
As he stood in the dock, dressed in a white shirt hidden under a black coat, he simply nodded that he understood each charge read out to him and requested trial for all of them.
After the plea was recorded, Afzanizam pointed out to the judge that among charges were several non-bailable offences, but proposed a bail of RM3 million to be set, should the court decide so, due to the severity of charges.
Azrul then pleaded on behalf of Yusof that the accused had all his assets frozen by the MACC. Yusof, he said, was the sole breadwinner for his wife, eight children, an ailing mother and siblings who are working with him.
Norma then set bail at RM1.6 million with RM800,000 security, and instructed Yusof to surrender his passport to the court. Trial begins on June 22.