Ahmad Maslan pleads not guilty to money laundering charges

Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (pic) pleaded not guilty to both money laundering charges against him.

For the first charge, he was accused of money laundering by not declaring the RM2mil he allegedly received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when filing taxes for year 2013.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 for the act which was allegedly committed on April 30,2014, at the Inland Revenue Board branch in Jalan Duta.

For the second charge, he was accused of making false statements to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officials.

He was charged under Section 32(8)(c) under the same Act, for the act allegedly committed in the Media Room in Parliament on July 4,2019.

Judge Azman Ahmad set bail at RM500,000 with one guarantor, and ruled that Ahmad’s passport be surrendered.

The deputy public prosecutor is Norzilati Izahani Zainal, while Ahmad was represented by Hamidi Mohd Noh.

The next mention for the case is on Feb 21.

Prior to this on Monday (Jan 20), Ahmad had been taken in for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Abd Samad is also in court today (Jan 21), facing a charge under the same Act.

MACC revealed in October last year that 80 entities, including individuals, were given two weeks to pay a total of RM420mil, an amount which was classified as fines for receiving monies from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The commission named Ahmad and Shahrir as among nine individuals who were slapped with the compounds.

On Jan 6, the MACC said it would challenge a move that was filed against it on the right to issue compounds to recover funds which allegedly originated from 1MDB.

It had been reported that Ahmad and Shahrir were among those challenging the notices issued by MACC.

The Star