KUCHING: A police inspector was charged yesterday in the Session Court here with ten counts of corruption and eight counts of money laundering, involving a total amount of RM316,167.65.
Mohammad Harun, 39, from Sabah, who has served in Sarawak for seven years, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read to him in front of Judge Steve Ritikos.
The ten charges are made under Section 16(a)(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and can be punished under Section 24(1)(a) and (b) of the same act.
He received bribes totalling RM25,300 from two different men as an incentive not to take action under the Betting Houses Act 1953. These bribes were received through online transactions from a bank between 2019 and 2020.
If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine not less than five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Regarding the eight charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), he can be punished under subsection 4(1) of the same act. He was involved in the money laundering of a total amount of RM290,867.65.
For these charges, he indirectly participated in transactions related to the proceeds of unlawful activities, such as instructing a 38-year-old man to make deposits and monthly installments for a four-wheel drive vehicle, purchase a compact car in cash, transfer money for home renovations, and acquire a high-powered motorcycle.
He was charged with money laundering between April 2018 and July 2020.
If found guilty, he could face a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds of unlawful activities or the instrument of the offence at the time the offence was committed, or five million ringgit, whichever is higher.
However, the court allowed the accused, represented by a lawyer, Francis Wee, to be released on bail of RM25,000 for all the charges he faced.
The court then scheduled a further mention date for case management on November 24.
The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nisla Abdul Latiff, along with two Prosecution Officers, Jawa Milu and Noor Afiqah Mohd Yusuf.
