JOHOR BARU: A 53-year-old senior police officer with the rank of Deputy Superintendent was charged at the Sessions Court here with seven counts of money-laundering involving more than RM2 million.

Mohd Ismail Syed Merah claimed trial to all seven charges when it was read in front of Sessions Court judge Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nasir.

In the first to fifth charge, Ismail was charged with money laundering via an illegal activity through the purchase of an insurance coverage plan registered under his and his daughter’s name, managed by Faiza Abd Hamid, who is an MAA Takaful Bhd agent.

The offences were committed at MAA Takaful Bhd at No. 58 and 60, Susur 1, Jalan Tun Razak between Sept 4 to Sept 26, 2015, involving amounts of RM10,143.37; RM40,000; RM6,283.09; RM993,716.91 and RM500,000.

For the sixth charge, Ismail was charged with money laundering involving RM499,620 at the Batu Pahat RHB Bank Bhd branch at No. 89, Jalan Rahmat, Batu Pahat and had used a third person’s RHB account belonging to Tan Kim Tee on Oct 8, 2015.

For the seventh charge, Ismail committed the same offence at the Batu Pahat CIMB Bank Bhd branch at 39A, Jalan Rahmat, Batu Pahat, involving RM29,950 with a third person’s account belonging to Tan Kim Tee on Dec 28, 2015.

All seven charges fall under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 that can be punished under Section 4(1) of the same Act.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutor Khazrin Haffiz Khalil prosecuted.

Ismail was represented by lawyer Mohd Baharuddin Ahmad Kassim.

Mohd Fauzi fixed bail at RM100,000 for all seven charges and directed for Ismail’s name be blacklisted from the Immigration Department to prevent him traveling abroad.

He set Feb 23 for mention.

-New Straits Times