KUALA LUMPUR: A member of Islamic NGO Ikram has been hauled to the Sessions Court for money laundering amounting to more than RM17.9mil between 2021 and 2025.
Fakhrudin Abd Karim, 57, pleaded not guilty to 17 charges before judge Azrul Darus here on Thursday (June 25).
"I understand. I claim trial," he said when asked for his plea.
According to the first until fourth charge sheets, Fakhrudin allegedly laundered a total of RM10,542,650.10 by transferring the monies from Ehsan Cares Solution bank account to MAG Builders Sdn Bhd's bank account to pay for his new bungalow in Bandar Kundang, Gombak.
For the fifth until seventh charge sheets, Fakhrudin was accused of using proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM2,660,236.59 to pay for his credit card, by transferring the monies from Ehsan Cares Solution to the credit card account.
For the eighth until the 17th charges, the accused allegedly transferred a total of RM4,794,784.52 for the payment of seven luxury vehicles; a Mercedes Benz, a Range Rover, a Porsche 911 Carrera, a Porsche 911 Turbo, two Toyota Alphard and a Lexus.
The payments were allegedly made from Ehsan Cares Solution's account to two accounts belonging to Wiranusa Corporation Sdn Bhd and Promosi Mantap Sdn while the Lexus was allegedly paid through a cheque from Fakhrudin's bank account to Aspirasi Utara Sdn Bhd's accounts.
All of the offences were allegedly committed at two banks in Bangsar and Bukit Bintang between Jan 6, 2021 and April 21, 2025.
The 17 charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds from Illegal Activities 2001 where Fakhrudin is facing imprisonment of up to 15 years and fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or proceeds from illegal activities, or RM5mil, whichever is higher, if he is convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court that the accused was previously charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with 158 charges linked to bribery.
He applied to the court to have the present case transferred to the Shah Alam court for a joint trial.
"The prosecution does not intend to apply any bail here as we seek for this court to apply the bail conditions that were already given by the Shah Alam court," DPP Ahmad Akram said.
He told the court that Fakhrudin was allowed a RM500,000 bail in two sureties and told not to come near the prosecution witnesses in the previous case.
Fakhrudin's lawyer Datuk N. Sivananthan said the defence has no objections to the transfer nor the bail conditions.
Judge Azrul then allowed the transfer and applied the same bail that was granted by the Shah Alam court.
The case is fixed for mention at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on Aug 7.
