FORMER Johor executive councillor Abd Latif Bandim, his son Ahmad Fauzan Hatim and a real estate consultant claimed trial to 21 counts of money laundering involving RM35.8 million at the Johor Baru Sessions Court today.

New Straits Times reported that this is the second set of charges Latif, 51, is facing after previously claiming trial to 33 counts of abetting bribery with another person on April 19.

Fauzan, 25, and real estate consultant Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, 44, were also among those detained by MACC in the same case in February.

The charges against Latif were under Section 4(1) and Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) and Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLTFPUA).

Fauzan and Amir each have four charges under AMLTFPUA.

If found guilty, the AMLATFA carries a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to RM5 million, or both, while AMLTFPUA carries up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5 million, or both.

Sessions judge Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nasir granted bail for Latif at RM500,000, Amir at RM400,000, and Fauzan at RM200,000.

The court fixed July 5 for mention and the judge also ordered for the case to be tried together with Latif and Amir’s previous charges of abetting RM30.3 million in bribes. – June 14, 2017.