Sentence against former cop for money laundering upheld

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal upheld the Sessions Court's sentence against a former police officer on four counts of money laundering and increased his jail term from two to eight years.
The three-man panel led by Appeals Court Judge Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi said the decision was made after considering the seriousness of the case and the sum of money involved.
Former police Superintendent Azmi Osman, 60, was charged with committing four counts of money laundering amounting to more than RM3 million between 2002 and 2005.
Yesterday, the court also retained the fine of RM1.75 million for all four charges, in default of six months in jail.
In 2012, the Johor Baru Sessions Court sentenced Azmi after finding him guilty under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and had ordered that the jail sentence of two years per charge, be run concurrently.
For the first and second charges, the accused was alleged to have received RM2.08 million and RM679,850 proceeds from money laundering through his Maybank current account in Mentakab, Pahang between Feb 6 and Dec 20, 2002 and Jan 15 and Oct 2 in 2003.
For the third and fourth charges, he was alleged to have received RM941,930 and RM250,000 for the same activity through another Maybank current account at the City Square Shopping Centre, Johor Baru on Jan 13, 2004 and April 5, 2005.
This decision was later overturned when the Johor Baru High Court acquitted and discharged him of all four charges.
The Court of Appeal also dismissed an appeal made by Azmi over forfeiture of properties worth about RM6 million by the authorities in 2006, which was carried out under Section 55 and 61 of the same act.
During mitigation, Azmi's lawyer Adam Yap, urged for a lighter sentence, saying the accused had served with the police force since 1973, at the age of 18.
"May there be justice tampered with mercy," Yap said, adding that his client is suffering from gout and hypertension.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor Anselm Charles Fernandis said the punishment meted out should reflect the seriousness of the case.
Azmi, who was present in court with family members and close friends, was seen solemn and quiet after the court delivered its verdict.