Van driver claims trial to eight counts of money laundering

BUTTERWORTH: A 39-year-old driver was charged in the Sessions Court with eight counts of money laundering today.
N.Lalit Kumar, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial after all the charges were read to him by a court translator in Tamil before Judge Noor Aini Yusof.
For the first and second charge, he is alleged to have received RM1.066 million and RM624,902 through his company's bank account in United Overseas Bank Malaysia Berhad (UOB).
On the third, fourth, fifth and sixth charges, Lalit Kumar was alleged to have transferred a total of RM1.35 million in four separate transactions from his company account to four different companies.
On the seventh and last charge he is alleged to have disposed a total of RM350,000 through two cash cheques by the same bank.
He is accused of committing the offences at No. 4071 & 4072 UOB Malaysia Berhad, Butterworth branch, Jalan Bagan Luar, Butterworth between June 12 and June 17, 2015.
The charges are framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (Act 613) which carries a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years or both, upon conviction.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Syafinas Shabudin suggested for bail to be set at RM50,000 for all the charges.
Defence counsel Y. Yogeswaran requested for a lower quantum of bail, as the accused only works as a van driver and has to take care of his paralysed mother.
Noor Aini then set bail at RM30,000 with one surety for all the charges and fixed June 5 for mention.