ALOR STAR: A businessman today pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to a charge of criminal breach of trust and six counts under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, involving nearly RM500,000.
Ahmad Syaradhi Mohd Nor, 51, from Kuah, Langkawi, entered the plea when the charges were read before Judge Priscilla Hemamalini.
According to the charge of criminal breach of trust, the accused had dishonestly used a RM315,500 security deposit belonging to Syarikat MT Agrofood Industries Sdn Bhd, which was meant to be paid to Syarikat Ikhtiar Factoring Sdn Bhd, for his personal use."
Syaradhi is accused of having withdrawn the money through a Jaring Pelangi Trading company account, which belonged to his wife, Raja Syaidatul Akmar Raja Zezeman.
He is alleged to have committed the offence between Nov 1, 2022, and July 25, 2023 at Maybank Berhad branch in Kuah, Langkawi.
The charge was framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries up to 10 years' imprisonment and is liable to whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Noorazura Zulkiflee proposed the court set the bail at RM30,000 and the accused's passport to be surrendered to the court pending the trial.
Syaradhi, who was not represented, pleaded for a lower amount as his business has collapsed since he was arrested by MACC early last year.
He also informed the court that he suffers from a slip disc and is still undergoing treatment.
"I am also supporting a wife who is suffering from renal failure and a 12-year-old child who is still schooling.
"Therefore, I am pleading with the court to set the lowest bail amount as possible," Syaradhi added.
Priscilla subsequently set the bail at RM20,000 with one surety and banned the accused from renewing his passport.
Later in the same court, the accused pleaded not guilty to five counts under the Anti-Money Laundering Act."
For the first count, he is charged with accepting RM63,734 through a Bank Rakyat Berhad account belonging to him, which is a proceed from an illegal activity.
He is charged with committing the offence between Nov 3, 2022, and July 25, 2023, at Maybank Berhad branch in Kuah, Langkawi.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act, which carries up to 15 years' imprisonment and no less than five times the amount or proceeds from illegal activity, or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The accused later claimed trial to a charge with accepting RM14,185 through Jaring Pelangi Trading's RHB Bank Berhad account belonging to his wife.
He is alleged to have committed the offence between Nov 5, 2022, and Dec 27, 2022, at the same Maybank branch.
The accused also claimed trial to a charge with using RM7,900 illegal proceeds from Jaring Pelangi Trading account belonging to his wife between Nov 10, 2022, and Mar 7, 2022, at the same bank branch.
The accused later claimed trial to the fourth count of charge with using RM14,185 from a Jaringan Pelangi Trading's Maybank account belonging to Hasimah Dahalan between Nov 10, 2022, and Mar 14, 2022, at the same bank branch.
For the fifth charge under the money laundering act, Syaradhi claimed trial for using RM15,800 from Jaring Pelangi Trading's Maybank to pay Habib Jewels Sdn Bhd through a RHB Bank account.
The accused also pleaded not guilty to the sixth charge, which involves receiving RM68,682.30 in proceeds from an illegal activity.
Syaradhi is alleged to have received the money from Agam Bina Trading through his Bank Rakyat account between Jan 31, 2023, and Mar 12, 2023, at the same bank branch.
The prosecution proposed the court set the bail at RM30,000 for all all charges.
The court, however, set the bail at RM15,000 for all the charges and set Jan 8 for the court to meet again.