Lai Seng Wah, 44, Chin Swee Heung, 53, Chua Seng Wen, 64, and Tong Thin Fook, 60, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them separately before judge Sazlina Safie, Bernama reported.

Lai was charged with two counts of acquiring proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM40,245, allegedly from the sale of durians grown on land without state approval in Sungai Klau, Raub, between July 25, 2024 and April 15 this year.

Chin faces five similar charges involving RM48,774 at the same location between July 27, 2024 and Aug 29 this year.

Chua was charged with acquiring proceeds totalling RM15,945 in Sungai Klau, Raub, between July 11 and Aug 12, while Tong faces two charges involving RM454,365 in Sungai Ruan, Raub, between July 4, 2024 and Oct 7 this year.

All four men were charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the amount involved, if convicted.

Earlier, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy public prosecutor Ezuain Farhana Ahmad proposed bail of between RM20,000 and RM50,000 for each accused, and that they report monthly to the MACC office, surrender their passports to the court, and refrain from contacting witnesses until the case concludes.

Lawyer Amirull Afiqq Lokman, representing all four, appealed for minimal bail, saying his clients were supporting their families.

The court granted bail of RM20,000 for each accused with the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution, and set Dec 9 for mention of the case.