Alvin Goh and brother charged with receiving RM2.14mil in ill-gotten gains

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman Alvin Goh, who escaped from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters last October by climbing over a fence, has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to seven counts of receiving RM2.14mil, the alleged proceeds of illegal activities.

Goh, 32, whose birth name is Goh Leong Yeong, and his brother Goh Yeong Hui, 28, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read out before judge Sabariah Othman here on Monday (April 12).

According to the first to the seventh charge sheets, both men, as directors of Malaysia House of Internet Sdn Bhd, had allegedly received a total of RM2.14mil from two China nationals through a bank account belonging to the company.

The offences were allegedly committed at Public Bank Berhad, Jalan Bukit Bintang here, between Sept 9 and Nov 7,2019.

The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceed of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and the brothers face a maximum 15 years in prison, and a fine at least five times the amount of money involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Keng Fatt proposed bail of RM300,000 for each accused for all the charges.

He said the amount was reasonable as the men were charged with a serious offence and Alvin was a flight risk as he had a record of fleeing from the authorities.

“The prosecution hopes the court would take judicial notice on this as the incident (where Alvin fled) was reported in the media, ” he said, adding that it took weeks for Alvin to be rearrested.

Lawyer Jacky Loi, who represented the brothers, asked for a lower amount.

He said Alvin was currently under a two-year detention under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca).

Judge Sabariah fixed bail at RM200,000 in one surety each.

The case is set for mention on May 24.