Senior cop charged with RM2 mil money laundering

A senior police officer pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court in Johor Baru today to seven counts of money laundering , involving RM2.07 million.

DSP Mohd Ismail Syed Merah, 53, made the plea and claimed trial to the charge before Judge Mohd Fauzi Mohd Nazir.

The police officer, who is married and attached with the Bukit Aman Logistic Department in Kuala Lumpur, was charged with committing the offence at three locations between Sept 4, 2014 and Dec 28, 2015.

The locations are MAA Takaful Building, Jalan Tun Razak, Johor Baru and at two bank premises, namely RHB and CIMB at Jalan Rahmat near Batu Pahat.

On five of the charges, Mohd Ismail was alleged to have used money obtained from unlawful activities, involving RM10,143.37; RM40,000; RM6,283.09; RM993,716.91 and RM500,000, respectively, to buy and increase investments in
Takafullife Insurance Protection Plan and Takafulink Plan registered under his daughter's name, Nur Aqillah Mohd Ismail.

The other two charges were for committing money laundering, involving RM499,620 and RM29,950, using a third party account belonging to one Tan Kim Tee, 58.

The prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Khazrin Haffiz Khalil offered bail of RM70,000.

However, lawyer Mohd Baharuddin Ahmad Kassim, representing Mohd Ismail, said his client could only raise RM60,000, which was borrowed from relatives, as his assets had been frozen.

The court then set bail at RM100,000 and also barred Mohd Ismail from leaving the country.

The court also fixed Jan 23 for mention.

- Bernama