KUALA LUMPUR – Umno secretary-general and Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has pleaded not guilty in the high court here today to charges of money laundering for failing to declare RM2 million received from Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and giving false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“I understand and I plead not guilty,” he said when asked by the court interpreter before judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh.
Ahmad, 55, had pleaded not guilty to the charges for the first time last July 13 after the court allowed his application to transfer the case from the sessions court to the high court.
In allowing Ahmad’s application, the RM500,000 bail imposed by the sessions court when he was charged for the first time on January 21 last year remains while the high court set September 29 for case management.
At today’s proceeding, the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar, informed the court that it would call 10 witnesses to testify.
Hearing of the case has been set for 23 days next year, from June 7 to 9 and 13 to 15; July 18 to 21; and, 25 to 28, as well as August 15 to 19; and, 22 to 25. The dates were agreed to by Ahmad’s lawyer, Hamidi Mohd Noh.
On the money laundering charge, Ahmad is 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 the former prime minister in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013.
The former deputy finance minister was alleged to have received the money, believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities, via a cheque from AmIslamic Bank Bhd dated November 27, 2013, which he personally cashed the same day.
The offence was allegedly committed at the IRB, 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 is for giving false statements to the MACC when questioned by investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal over the issue in the media conference room at the Parliament building 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, August 24, 2021
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