KUALA LUMPUR: A former director of a software and information technology company was charged in separate Sessions Courts here with criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM5.5mil and money laundering involving RM403,000, allegedly committed in 2019.
Datuk Seri Liew Kok Leong, 53, (pic) pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read out before judges Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad and Suzana Hussin yesterday.
Before Muhammad Ilmami, Liew was charged with CBT in his capacity as a director of ARB Development Sdn Bhd, involving RM5.5mil entrusted to him to acquire a 51% stake, equivalent to 255,000 ordinary shares, in C&M Renewable Energy Technology Sdn Bhd.
Liew allegedly transferred the funds into a law firm’s account, from which they were subsequently moved to a bank account belonging to Er Yan Shuen, 55, purportedly for the purchase of three shop-office units at Tigerlane Square in Ipoh, Perak.
The offence was allegedly committed at a building on Jalan Stesen Sentral 2 here between May 6 and June 17, 2019, Bernama reported.
The charge under Section 409 of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and a possible fine.
Deputy public prosecutor Julianaazrina Jaafar proposed bail of RM500,000 with one surety, with additional conditions requiring Liew to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Putrajaya monthly, surrender his passport, obtain court permission before leaving the country and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses.
Muhammad Ilmami subsequently granted bail of RM200,000 with one surety, subject to the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.
The next case mention was fixed for Dec 10.
Meanwhile, before Suzana, Liew was charged with engaging in a transaction involving proceeds from unlawful activities by allegedly instructing Er to transfer RM403,000 from his bank account to that of Permata Global Sdn Bhd.
The offence was allegedly committed at a bank branch in Taman Maluri here on June 15, 2019.
Under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, a conviction carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of at least five times the amount of proceeds from the unlawful activity or RM5mil, whichever is higher.
Julianaazrina asked the court to apply the existing RM200,000 bail and the additional conditions imposed in the criminal breach of trust case.
“The prosecution applies for this case to be transferred to the Sessions Court handling the earlier case, as it involves the same witnesses.
“The defence counsel has no objection to this application,” she said.
Suzana allowed the transfer application and ordered that the existing bail and additional conditions remain in force until the conclusion of the case.
