M’sian charged with moving half a million case resumes

|     Fadley Faisal     |

THE High Court yesterday heard further mention of a case involving a Malaysian national who charged with moving close to half a million dollars worth of Brunei and Malaysian currency into the country. The case is scheduled to continue today.

This is the first time a case of this nature is being heard under the Criminal Asset Recovery Order 2012, where 41 year-old Malaysian national, Woo Kian Min was charged before the magistrate’s court in the capital for moving close to half a million Brunei dollars in Brunei and Malaysian currency into the Sultanate. The defendant pleaded guilty towards the charge, while the court has ruled that the money will be returned to the defendant.

The defendant was arrested by marine police on September 4, 2012, at around 3pm in the vicinity of Brunei River and found to be in possession of a substantial amount of cash.

The defendant moved the money into the country from Lawas, Sarawak.

Moving money in or out of the country, which exceeds the prescribed amount of $15,000 without presenting a prior report with regard to the act is an offence under section 37 (2) of the Criminal Asset Recovery Order 2012, which carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding $50,000, or imprisonment term not exceeding three years, or both.

Justice Dato Hairol Arni will hear further mention of the case today. Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhana Hj Sudin prosecuted the case.