Businessman, six others claim trial to owning vehicles obtained from illegal gambling proceeds

SHAH ALAM: A businessman was slapped with seven charges for allegedly owning luxury vehicles obtained from money laundering and illegal gambling activities at the Sessions Court here today.

Chung Chee Yang, 44, claimed trial for all seven charges which were read to him before judge Helina Sulaiman.

Also charged with him were his wife, Lim Lee Cheng, 40, his mother, Tan Kwee Eng, 65, as well as Ng Min Lin, 43, Tan Kah Hock, 37, Khor Beng Sin, 68, and Lai Yee Peng, 73, who all faced one charge each.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges framed under subsection 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), with those found guilty punishable under subsection 4(1) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

Chung was charged with the others with owning luxury cars registered under the names of the co-accused persons that were obtained with illegal monies.

The vehicles were a Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur W12, a BMW X5, a Toyota Alphard and a Honda Accord.

He was also accused together with his wife for carrying out illegal gambling activities at a premises by operating gambling machines.

They were accused of committing the offences between April 15 and 16 last year in Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya as well as Bandar Botanik and Bandar Bukit Tinggi in Klang.

If found guilty, they face a jail term of up to 15 years, and fined not less than the amount involved or RM5mil, whichever is higher.

DPP Harris Ong Mohd Jefffery Ong prosecuted, with all the accused defended by counsel Aidil Akmal Sharidan, Ahmad Faiz Munawar and Izzat Dzulkafli.

The prosecution offered a bail of RM100,000 for Chung and RM50,000 each for the other six. The defence team requested for bail to be set at RM10,000 for each of the accused.

Judge Helina set bail at RM20,000 for each of the accused as well as ordered them to surrender their passports to the court and report themselves at a police station once a week.

She also fixed May 31 for the case to be mentioned.

Chung created headlines in April last year when he was charged with beating up and threatening his two bodyguards with a pistol.