Immigration officer Mohd Khairi Othman (centre) is escorted by MACC officers into the court compound after was charged with money laundering in Butterworth January 5, 2018. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

SEBERANG PERAI, Jan 5 — An immigration officer was slapped with money laundering charges at the Sessions Court in Butterworth, Penang today, a day after he was charged with corruption and money laundering in Alor Setar, Kedah yesterday.

Mohd Khairi Othman was charged with eight counts of money laundering involving the transactions of funds totalling RM4 million which was obtained from unlawful activities at banks in Jelutong and Simpang Ampat in Penang between September 4, 2015 and December 15, 2016.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which carries a jail sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of five times the amount of the case or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Mohd Khairi claimed trial to all eight charges before Sessions Court judge Sitarunnisa Abdul Aziz.

Sitarunnisa allowed bail at RM200,000 with one surety and fixed February 13 for mention of the case.

Yesterday, the 38-year-old was charged at the Sessions Court in Kedah with 18 counts of money laundering involving transaction of funds totalling RM8.7 million.

He was also slapped with two corruption charges for allegedly accepting a total RM150,000 from two individuals as gratification to expedite the issuing of Expatriate Approval letter for two companies.

His wife, Noorashikin Azmi, 38 and sister, Huziana Othman, 49, were also charged at Alor Setar yesterday with money laundering and abetment.

Noorashikin faced five counts of money laundering charges involving RM2.4 million while Huziana, who is a chief nurse at a government hospital, was charged with abetting Mohd Khairi by accepting RM500,000 which was allegedly proceeds from unlawful activities.

The trio were arrested on January 3 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers in Kedah under Ops Lavish 2.