Lawyer pleads not guilty to using firm as mule account in RM350,000 transaction

JOHOR BARU: A 34-year-old lawyer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here for allegedly using his legal firm’s account as a “mule account” to carry out an illegal transaction.

Muhammad Valantino Ifni Ho Ridzuan was accused of being directly involved in a RM350,000 transaction involving funds from Bank Pertanian Malaysia Bhd, which was channelled to his firm’s Hong Leong Bank account on Nov 3 last year.

He allegedly committed an offence under Section 424C(1) of the Penal Code and faces a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of RM150,000, or both.

In mitigation, deputy public prosecutors Siti Aina Rodhiah Shikh Md Saud and Eugene Meredith Gilbert requested for bail to be set at RM20,000.

However, the lawyer for the accused, P. Rajagunaseelan, asked for the bail to be reduced as he was a former official of the court and has a permanent address in Johor.

Rajagunaseelan also argued that the monies were deposited into the firm’s account and not the personal account of the accused.

“The accused, who is unemployed, has yet to renew his practising certificate this year and that he was also taking care of both his elderly parents who were unemployed,” Rajagunaseelan mitigated.

Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim set bail at RM15,000 and asked the accused to surrender his passport.

He also set March 9 for remention of the case and for document submission.

Muhammad Valantino has been a lawyer since 2016.