KUALA LUMPUR – The trial of Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who is facing charges of money laundering and providing false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), will begin in June next year.
High court judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh has fixed 23 days to hear the case, namely, from June 7 to 9, June 13 to 15, July 18 to 21, July 25 to 28, August 15 to 19, and August 22 to 25, next year.
The case was fixed for first mention today for the two charges against Ahmad, 55, to be re-read to him after judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah on July 13 allowed his application to have his case transferred from the sessions court to the high court.
However, Ahmad’s lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh told the court that his client could not attend today’s proceedings because he is a close contact of two individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.
The defence team is therefore requesting another mention date for the charges against Ahmad to be re-read, he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar said the prosecution had received a representation letter from the defence team.
Judge Shahrir set August 24 for re-mention of the case.
On the charge of money laundering, Ahmad was alleged to have violated Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 by not stating his real income on the RM2 million he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013.
He is alleged to have received the money, believed to be proceeds of illegal activities, via an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated November 27, 2013, which he personally cashed on the same day.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Inland Revenue Board, Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, on April 30, 2014.
The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.
The other charge was for giving false statements to the MACC when questioned by investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal over the issue at the Parliament building’s media conference room between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on July 4, 2019.
The charge, framed under Section 32(8)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM3 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty. – Bernama, July 30, 2021
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