4 days ago
Project lead pleads not guilty to 68 charges of money laundering
In the dock: Vikram being escorted to the Shah Alam Sessions Court for the money laundering trial. — KK SHAM/The Star
SHAH ALAM: It took a whole hour for 68 charges of money laundering against a part-time project manager to be read out in court.
The accused, R. Vikram Menon, 46, claimed trial for allegedly laundering RM688,916.85 by transferring and disposing the monies between Oct 17, 2023, and Oct 15, 2024. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He had allegedly carried out the activities around Bandar Sri Damansara through 301 transactions for fund transfers to 67 bank accounts as well as 159 online and cash disposal transactions, ranging from RM1,000 to RM90,463.33.
The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 against Vikram before Sessions Court judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud yesterday.
The offence, which is punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same Act, carries a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of at least five times the amount involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher, if found guilty.
Awang Kerisnada set bail at RM70,000 with one surety and ordered Vikram to surrender his passport to the court, refrain from making contact with any of the prosecution witnesses as well as report to the Sungai Buloh district police headquarters every month.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Wan Nur Amanina Wan Din asked the court to set bail at RM80,000 but lawyer S. Kulasegaran sought for the amount to be reduced to RM30,000, stating that bail was to ensure court attendance and not act as punishment.
