KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman Tan Sri Tan Kean Soon has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to four cheating charges involving alleged payments totalling more than RM10mil over three days in March last year.
Tan, dressed in a white shirt, dark suit and matching tie and trousers, appeared calm as he arrived in court accompanied by family members and lawyers.
He pleaded not guilty to all four charges before Sessions judge Azrul Darus on Wednesday (Oct 21).
Tan is accused of deceiving businessman Datuk Keh Chuan Seng into believing that he could help resolve the freezing of the latter's personal and company bank accounts by the police, as well as a police investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering and Criminal Investigation (Amla) unit.
The alleged offences took place on March 23, 24 and 25 last year at four locations in Kuala Lumpur.
For the first charge, Tan allegedly cheated Keh of RM2mil at the Ayanna Resort Sales Gallery in Kuchai Lama on March 23.
For the second charge, he allegedly cheated Keh of RM3mil at Dataran Maybank in Bangsar on March 24.
On the same day, Tan allegedly cheated Keh of S$1.5mil (about RM4.8mil) at The Cove, Pavilion Hotel.
For the fourth charge, he allegedly cheated Keh of RM500,000 at Caffeinees in Kampung Pandan on March 25.
The charges stated that the money was to be handed over through businessman Datuk Seri Chiau Beng Teik, and that Keh would not have handed over the sums had he not been deceived.
Tan was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between one and 10 years, caning and a fine upon conviction.
The case is fixed for mention on Jan 11.
