The project manager of a company told the Hasbie Satar money laundering trial at the Sessions Court in Buterworth today that more than 30 personal and company cheques amounting to more than RM5 million were cashed and handed over to two men who claimed to be working for the accused.  

The 13th and final prosecution witness, Gallant Route Sdn Bhd project manager Quah Hooi Eng, was testifying at the trial of former political secretary at the Prime Minister’s Department, Hasbie Satar, who is charged with laundering a sum of RM2.134 million, on Feb 11 last year.  

Quah said he was given to understand that the money was payment for government projects under the Finance Ministry, as Hasbie was the political secretary to the then-finance minister II, Nor Mohamed Yakcop.   

He added that he was frequently instructed by his employer, Tan Kim Chooi, to cash the cheques and pass the money to a man named Japaruddin Ibrahim and once or twice to another man known only as Hatta.

Quah testified that Tan first introduced him to Japaruddin and Hasbie at a karaoke pub in Kuala Lumpur where he was told to entertain them.  

He said Japaruddin had told him that Hasbie was his boss during that first meeting.   

Quah further admitted that his employer had funded the purchase of a RM3.85 million house in Gita Bayu, Seri Kembangan, Selangor and that the company was understood to stand for Japaruddin Bin Ibrahim, who happened to be one of its directors.    

He said Gallant Route paid an RM80,000 deposit on the house under the name of JBI Sdn Bhd and based on an agreement the house was supposed to have been rented to Hasbie.

Hasbie, 39, faces a fine of up to RM5 million or five years in prison or both, upon conviction under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Financing of Terrorism Act 2001.  

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission DPP Anselm Charles Fernandis led the prosecution and Messrs Shafee & Co represented Hasbie.  

The trial resumes on Aug 8 before Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin.

- Bernama