[UPDATED] Court acquits Shahrir of RM1 mil money laundering charge

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad has been discharged and acquitted of his RM1 million money laundering charge by the high court here this morning.

Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin made the decision after the prosecution had informed the court that they did not wish to pursue the case further.

“With such circumstances it is reasonable for the charge against the accused to be dropped and for him to be acquitted,” said the judge.

Jamil also ordered for Shahrir’s passport to be returned to him along with his bail funds.

Earlier deputy public prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Azmi told the court the prosecution sought a discharge not amounting to acquittal.

In response, Shahrir’s lawyer Datuk Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros asked the court for a discharge and an acquittal instead.

Syed Faisal argued that the charge was defective and sought an “end to the case”, rather than the prosecution being able to pursue the case at a later date.

The defence lawyer also argued that the case lacked evidence, pointing to the testimony of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s case investigative officer, Nurzahidah Yacop, who said investigations were incomplete when Shahrir was charged.

Previously, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was scheduled to testify today but this has now been superseded by today’s ruling.

Among other things Nurzahidah had said in her testimony was that the RM1 million was meant to be used for political activities, as Shahrir was also Johor Baru Umno division chief.

Shahrir, 72, was previously facing a money-laundering charge by not stating his real income for the 2013 assessment year – which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 – on the RM1 million believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib.

The former Johor Baru MP allegedly committed the offence at the Inland Revenue Board, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, here on April 25, 2014.

The RM1 million had been issued to him through a check from Najib and deposited into Shahrir’s Public Islamic Bank account on November 28, 2013.

The charge, under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, provides imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of RM5 million or both, if convicted. – The Vibes, January 5, 2023