Aman Palestin duo charged with CBT, money laundering, cheating
The NGO’s top two executives and a company director face a total of 164 charges, involving almost RM40 million.
(FMT) – Two executives from an NGO and a company director pleaded not guilty in the sessions court here to a total of 164 charges involving money laundering, criminal breach of trust (CBT), and cheating.
Aman Palestin executive chairman Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman, CEO Awang Suffian Awang Piut, and Samudra Champa Sdn Bhd director Khairudin Ali claimed trial after the charges were read to them before judge Anita Harun.
The charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code for CBT, Section 420 for cheating, and Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
Zaik and Awang Suffian were each slapped with 52 counts of CBT involving RM20.9 million, as well as 19 counts of money laundering involving RM12.8 million.
Both of them had acted in their capacities as company directors of Samudra Champa.
Meanwhile, Khairudin was charged with three counts of money laundering totalling RM6 million.
The court granted the trio bail, with Khairudin’s set at RM200,000, while Zaik and Awang Suffian were asked to pay RM1 million each. They were also required to provide one surety and surrender their passport as ordered by the court.
All three accused were ordered to pay half of the bail amount today while the balance must be paid before the case mention set on March 13.
Yesterday, FMT cited a source as saying that three people suspected of being involved in money laundering funds that were embezzled from Aman Palestin are facing over 100 charges. The funds were part of donations from the public in support of the Palestinian cause.
The source said the three men were arrested at 11.30am yesterday when they went to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya to give their statements.
Last year, MACC froze 41 bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin and several other companies with a combined total of RM15.8 million as part of an investigation into the NGO’s alleged misappropriation of RM70 million.
