Apr.21, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Business owner Wong Hing Shin was unknowingly tricked into playing a role in a suspected “money laundering” scam.

Wong owns a printing business, Skypoint in Salak South.

The 45-year-old was ap­­proached by a man known only as Faizal on March 22, who presented him with a lucrative business proposition.

“Faizal claimed he represented a private hospital and we negotiated a deal worth RM322,000 to mass print a medical book,” said Wong at a press conference in Wisma MCA yesterday.

Faizal banked in RM20,000 into Skypoint’s current account on April 1 as “good faith” money.

A few days later, he requested that Wong bring the money in cash form to Faizal’s accountant, in order to issue Wong with bank cheques to start operations.

After handing over the money to a man claiming to be Faizal’s accountant, Wong was told to meet Faizal at a certain location, but Faizal never showed up.

“I am worried that my company’s account has been used for illegal money laundering purposes,” said Wong.

MCA Public Service and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong, who was also present, warned suppliers to beware of such a scam.

“Many illegitimate companies approach innocent businessmen with ‘business deals’ only to disappear once they have reached their goal,” said Chong, who described such organisations as “fly-by-night” companies.

“Remember that nothing comes for free,” said Chong, who will be looking into Wong’s case along with MCA lawyer Quek Ngee Meng.