British national charged with having US$489,600 in fake money

A British national was today charged in the Sessions Court with having 4,896 pieces of US$100 counterfeit currency notes here early this month. Billal Chanchi, 46, an engineer, pleaded not guilty to possession of the money, equivalent to RM1,591,200, at the Seri Lata Condominium in Jalan 4/125, Taman Desa Petaling, Cheras, on Aug 1. He was charged under Section 489c of the Penal Code which provides for a jail sentence of up to 10 years upon conviction. Judge Mat Ghani Abdullah set bail at RM900,000 with one Malaysian surety, ordered Billal's passport to be impounded and fixed Sept 20 for mention. Deputy Public Prosecutor Haderiah Siri appeared for the prosecution while Billal was unrepresented.