12 January 2021
An Immigration Department officer has been hauled to court to face graft and money laundering charges involving RM230,990, to secure the passage of foreign nationals through Immigration at KLIA2 in Sepang.
Yusrazif Wan Yusoh, 42, was charged with five counts of accepting cash in RM300, RM5,000, RM3,000, RM5,000 and RM1,700 amounts from two individuals, Voon Pot Lim and Yuen Hon Loong, to ensure Filipino and Chinese nationals received Immigration clearance at the airport.
The offences were allegedly committed at Alliance Islamic Bank in Putrajaya between Oct 28 and Nov 16, last year.
The accused, who was detained during a Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission;s (MACC) “Ops Selat’” sting operation, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin here on Tuesday (Jan 12).
The charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code carries imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
At a separate Sessions Court, Yusrazif also claimed trial before judge Rozina Ayob to a money laundering charge.
He allegedly accepted RM215,990, which was proceeds from illegal activity, from Yuen and later deposited the monies into Yuen’s bank account.
The offence was allegedly committed at Alliance Islamic Bank in Putrajaya between Feb 27,2019 and Nov 13,2020.
MOHD SAHAR MISNI/The Star
He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum of 15 years’ jail and a fine of five times the amount, or RM5mil, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Before Suzana, DPP Nor Diana Nor Azwa informed the court that the prosecution was offering a RM100,000 bail for the charges at both courts.
“We ask for a joint bail as we will be applying for the money laundering case at the other court (before Rozina) to be jointly tried here,” she said.
Lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork, who represented the accused, asked for a lower bail amount on grounds that his client has to support four children, his wife and his mother-in-law.
“I ask for a RM50,000 bail,” he said.
Judge Suzana fixed bail at RM55,000 for the five counts of graft and one count of money laundering.
“The accused must report to the MACC office each month,” she said.
The case is fixed for mention on Feb 18.
The MACC, with the cooperation of the Immigration Department, carried out a nationwide blitz codenamed “Ops Selat” against members of a syndicate.
The syndicate, whose activities were in high demand since the movement control order was imposed in March, is believed to have provided “flying passport” services where agents would collect passports belonging to foreign workers and undocumented migrants whose social visit passes had expired.
Source: thestar.com.my
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