Gnanaraja slapped with 68 counts of money laundering involving RM11.4m

G Gnanaraja has been slapped with 68 counts of money laundering involving RM11.4 million, a week after being accused of deceiving the managing director of the contractor for the Penang undersea tunnel project.

The businessperson claimed trial to the charges read to him before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob today.

The majority of the charges pertain to Gnanaraja allegedly laundering millions transferred from the bank account of Bumi Muhibah Capital Holding Sdn Bhd to the accounts of various entities, such as the Home Ministry, as well to certain companies and individuals.

Gnanaraja, purportedly the director and owner of Bumi Muhibah Capital, is alleged to have committed the offences at a commercial bank branch at KLCC, between July 28, 2017, and Jan 18, 2018.

The charges were laid out under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Rozina granted the accused RM50,000 bail with two sureties, with a plot of land in Cheras as part of the bail. The two sureties are brothers-in-law of the accused, who are both owners of the land.

Gnanaraja had already been ordered to surrender his passport when he was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court last week.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai prosecuted, while counsel Geethan Ram Vincent appeared for Gnanaraja.

Last Wednesday, Gnanaraja claimed trial to duping Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd's Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli (above) into paying him RM19 million.

The 38-year-old businessperson had allegedly convinced Zarul that he could use his political connections to close MACC's investigations against the latter.

Last February, the MACC seized RM7.5 million in cash and property from a businessperson who allegedly received RM19 million to help stop an investigation into the Penang tunnel project.

This followed a letter of demand by Zenith to the businessperson to return the sum, after the businessperson allegedly failed to deliver on "consultancy" work in July 2017.

Described on his website as a Malaysian actor, film producer, social entrepreneur and public speaker, Gnanaraja also has a number of business interests.

[More to follow] - Mkini