Lawyer charged with money laundering amounting to RM2.34m

SHAH ALAM: A lawyer claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to eight charges of money laundering involving an amount of RM2.34 million between 2012 and 2014.
For the first two charges, Ong Keh Keong, had allegedly deposited two cheques worth RM845,000 and RM1.505 million belonging to Ong Partnership on July 18 and Sept 18, 2012 into his own account in the Standard Chartered Bank Berhad outlet in Jalan SS21/39, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya.
Ong, 42, was also slapped with six charges of transferring amounts between RM15,000 and RM2,250,000 from the first bank account into four other bank accounts under his name between Nov 29, 2012 and Apr 24, 2014 in the same venue.
All the charges were read under Section 4(1)(a) of the Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which carries a fine up to RM5 million or a maximum jail term of five years of both, if found guilty.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Robert Pasang Alam asked for bail of RM40,000 of the charges.
However, Ong's counsel K. Puspalingam asked for a lower bail, stating that his client has a criminal breach of trust charge being tried.
Judge G. Ramesh then fixed bail at RM30,000 with one surety, and asked Ong to surrender his passport to the court.
The case is set for mention on May 25.
In 2012, it was reported that Ong was charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM2 million in 2012.