Ahmad Maslan’s hearing for money laundering, false statement charges to begin Oct 16

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court has set four days beginning Oct 16 to hear the case of Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan who is facing charges of money laundering and giving false statements.

Judge Azman Ahmad set Oct 16 and 23, Nov 6 and Dec 24 for the hearing after deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar told the court that the High Court had dismissed Ahmad’s application for a review of a lower court’s decision against his bid for the charges against him to be dropped.

Ahmad was represented by lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh.

On Aug 14, judicial commissioner Aslam Zainuddin dismissed Ahmad’s review application after finding that the Sessions Court had made no mistake in dismissing his application to quash the charges against him.

The decision by the Sessions Court was made on July 24, on grounds that Ahmad’s application was premature.

Ahmad, 54, was charged with laundering money by failing to state his actual income on the RM2 million received from former prime minister Najib Razak in his income tax return form for assessment year 2013.

The act was in violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Duta branch of the Inland Revenue Board at 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 for a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.

Ahmad was also charged with giving false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) when questioned by MACC investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal over the issue at Parliament’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 for a maximum fine of RM3 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.