FORMER Mara Inc chairman Mohammad Lan Allani today pleaded not guilty before Judge Abu Bakar Manat in the Special Sessions Court for Corruption in Kota Kinabalu on two counts of laundering RM10 million.

Lan, 66, is alleged to have engaged in money laundering by transferring RM3 million from his private CIMB Bank account to his CIMB fixed deposit account at the Jalan Sagunting branch in Kota Kinabalu on December 10, 2012.

On the second charge, he is accused of transferring RM7 million into his account at the same place and day.

He was charged under section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, punishable under section 4 (1) of the same act, which carries a fine of up to RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years or both if convicted.

Judge Abu Bakar fixed bail at RM100,000 and adjourned the case to June 30.

On January 10, Lan was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal at Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on similar charges, with Judge Suzana Hussin making that decision having been informed that Lan would be charged again in Kota Kinabalu.

Also, in the Special Sessions Court for Corruption, former Sabah Ports and Wharf Department director Abel Ongkunik, 50, pleaded not guilty to 29 charges of corruption at several banks in Kota Kinabalu between 2017 and 2018, involving RM1.29 million.

According to the charge, Abel corruptly obtained for himself a bribe as an inducement to commit an act relating to the principal’s affairs: approving a work licence for the purpose of towing services to several companies in the state.

He was charged with an offence under section 17 (a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which is punishable under section 24 (1) of the same act, carrying a fine of not less than 10 times the value of the bribe or RM1 million, or imprisonment up to 20 years, or both simultaneously.

Abu Bakar fixed bail at RM100,000 and adjourned the case to April 29. – Bernama, March 15, 2022.