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ndhika Gumilang, husband of former senior Citibank manager Inong Malinda a.k.a. “Melinda Dee”, stood for his first trial hearing on Monday at the South Jakarta District Court on money laundering charges.

Malinda allegedly embezzled billions of rupiah from the bank’s customers. Chief trial prosecutor Helmi said Andhika was charged with the 2003 Money Laundering law, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Helmi said Andhika, a male model and sinetron actor, was charged under the money laundering law because he received gifts that were bought with money embezzled from Citibank customers. Andhika is also accused of receiving money for Malinda.

“[Andhika] should have known, or at least suspected, that the money and the gifts came from illicit sources,” he said.

According to the indictment, Malinda transferred the money to Andhika through the bank accounts of her relatives.

Malinda wired Rp 145 million (US$16,385) through her sister Visca Lovitasari’s account and another Rp 10 million through the account of Visca’s husband, Ismail bin Janim.

In total, Malinda reportedly facilitated transfers of Rp 331 million to Andhika. The money was allegedly used to pay for a down payment and installment payments on a Honda SUV, Helmi said.

“The car, with license plate B 155 ETY, was purchased for Etty May Sari, the mother of the defendant,” he said.

Helmi said that Malinda also bought a white Hummer H3 with license plate number B 18 DIK for Andhika.

The Rp 1,022 billion car was purchased in 2010 and was paid for in installments.

The Monday session also involved a hearing for Ismail, who has been charged with violating the money laundering law.

The same court also held a hearing over Visca’s involvement on Thursday last week.

Prosecutors said that Visca was aware of the embezzlement plot and that she knew the money in her account had come from Malinda.

Malinda is accused of siphoning around Rp 30 billion from her clients’ accounts, which she then transferred to her own bank accounts under the names of Visca, Ismail and PT Eksklusif Jaya Perkasa, a small company where Malinda worked as a top executive. (mim)