KUALA LUMPUR: The government is seeking to forfeit more than half a million ringgit from businessman Alvin Goh, who is also being investigated for his involvement in a Macau scam, and the wife of businessman “Datuk” Addy Kana over allegations that the monies were proceeds from illegal crypto trading and online gambling activities.

       In the applications filed recently, the government named Goh, his two companies Malaysian House of Internet Sdn Bhd and Networld Computer (KL) Sdn Bhd, and Addy’s wife Alyaa Syuhaila Mohamad Shariff, and Nine Nine International Sdn Bhd – a company where she and her husband sat as directors – as respondents.

       According to the court documents dated Sept 29, the government sought to retrieve a total of RM60,232.01 via three personal bank accounts (RM42,152.71, RM11,259.84 and RM6,819.46) from Goh alone.

       From Alyaa Syuhaila, the government sought to retrieve a total of RM353,723.81 from five accounts: RM127,000, RM71,000 and RM108,577.05 from three Amanah Saham Bumiputera accounts; RM26,343.43 and RM20,803.33 from two Maybank accounts.

       It also sought RM75,846.82 from Nine Nine International, RM10,588.94 from the Malaysian House of Internet and RM16,721.75 from Networld Computer.

       The forfeiture application was filed on grounds that the monies, seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), were obtained from illegal activities which were online gambling and crypto currency trading without licence, an offence under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

       The High Court fixed Dec 29 for case management for parties to inform Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan on the status of a gazette on the forfeiture for third parties.

       The notice in the gazette invites third parties to appear in person or to be represented by counsel to contest the forfeiture action before a hearing.

       During the proceeding on Thursday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib appeared for the prosecution.

       Goh was represented by lawyer Lim Jin Wen while Alyaa Syuhaila was represented by lawyer Effa Azuin Aidrul Hisyam.

       Goh, who was in the news earlier this year for fleeing the MACC headquarters by climbing over a fence, and Addy Kana, or his birth name Zaidi Kanapiah, are being investigated by the anti-graft body for alleged involvement in a Macau scam and illegal online gambling activities.