Ex-sports official charged with money laundering

KUALA LUMPUR: A former Youth and Sports Ministry official was charged today with three others for money laundering involving some RM17 million.
The ministry's finance division ex-secretary Otman Arsahd, 57 and the three others were charged separately under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001.
Otman, the alleged mastermind, is faced with 64 charges involving a total of RM16,623,000 through various bank transactions. He claimed trial to all 64 charges.
Sessions Court Judge Allaudeen Ismail fixed bail at RM100,000 in one surety and fixed May 31 for re-mention of the case.
Company director Abdul Gafar Abdurahiman, 42, claimed trial to 63 charges of money laundering involving over RM15.72 million.
The 63 transactions were made between Mar 7, 2012 and Dec 11, 2015 involving a total of RM15,723,000 derived from unlawful activity to Otman.
The fund transfer involved three separate bank branches, namely Putrajaya branch of RHB Bank, Raja Laut branch of Maybank and Maybank's Premier Support Credit Card outlet at Menara Maybank in KL.
Abdul Gafar was accused of transferring the amount through cheques from three companies either to Otman's bank accounts or to pay off Otman's credit card bills.
It was reported that Abdul Gafar is the director of GPO Essence Sdn Bhd, Enconic Corporation Sdn Bhd and Gapa Jitu Sdn Bhd which involves event management and sports equipment supply.
Sessions Court judge Mohd Nasir Nordin fixed bail at RM70,000 in one surety.
Abdul Gafar's wife Siti Rohanah Hussein, 42, who is also the director for all three companies, was charged with the same 63 charges of money laundering as Abdul Gafar.
Sessions court Judge Sohaini Alias fixed bail at RM70,000 in one surety and fixed May 24 for the next mention of the case.
A single charge was put forward before Halmi Khalid, 34, who was charged with making a cash transfer of RM900,000 to Otman on Dec 10, 2015 at RHB Bank in Plaza Damas, Hartamas. He claimed trial.
Sessions court Judge Sohaini Alias fixed bail at RM70,000 in one surety and fixed May 24 for the next mention of the case.