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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (July 8): The hearing of former deputy finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who is accused of money laundering and making false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), has been postponed as his legal team seeks to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
The trial, which was set for July 5 to 8, 12 to 15, and 26 to 29, this year, has been postponed due to a motion to transfer the matter to the High Court, according to Ahmad’s lead counsel, Hamidi Mohd Noh.
According to Hamidi, case management has been scheduled for July 13 at the High Court.
He further stated that another case management date has been set for August 9 to update the Sessions Court on the status of the application.
Ahmad, a Pontian member of Parliament and UMNO secretary-general, is accused of money laundering for failing to declare his true income after receiving RM2 million from then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, allegedly from 1Malaysia Development Bhd, on the Income Tax Return Form for the 2013 assessment year.
He is believed to have broken Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 by doing so.
On April 30, 2014, the former deputy minister is accused of committing the crime at the Inland Revenue Board, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim.
He is accused under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activity Act 2001 (AMLATFPUA), which carries a maximum penalty of RM5 million in fines or five years in jail, or both, if convicted.
Ahmad is also accused of lying to the MACC when investigating officer Principal Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Zairi Zainal questioned him about the former holding a press conference at the Parliament between 2.45 and 3.30 p.m. on July 4, 2019.
If convicted, the charge is brought under Section 32(8)(c) of the AMLATFPUA, which carries a maximum fine of RM3 million or a maximum prison sentence of five years, or both./n
