Ex-Perlis MB charged again with RM1.06 million money laundering

Former Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man pleaded not guilty in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today to five charges of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM1.06 million.

Azlan, 64, made the plea after the charges were read out to him before judge Azura Alwi.

"I plead not guilty and claim trial," said Azlan.

Azlan is alleged to have received proceeds from unlawful activities totalling RM1,059,675.25 from Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd, Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd and Abdul Rahim Halim, on behalf of Aidil Travel.

He was alleged to have received the money through three Maybank cheques and one CIMB cheque deposited into his Maybank and CIMB accounts, and in cash from Rahim.

He was charged with committing the offence at the Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman Maybank branch, CIMB Bank branch in Putrajaya and Sheraton Imperial Hotel, between Feb 19, 2014, and December 2017.

The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under Section 4(1) of the same act.

The section provides for a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds of the illegal activity or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Azlan was Pauh assemblyman from 2013 to 2018, before winning the Bintong state seat in 2018. He failed to defend the seat at the last general election in 2022.

Azlan served as Perlis menteri besar from 2013 to 2022.

Azura allowed Azman bail of RM50,000 with one surety and fixed June 9 for mention, as requested by the deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Ahmad Akram Gharib.

Earlier, Akram told the court that the prosecution would not request additional conditions for the accused to surrender his passport to the court as it had been handed over to the Kangar Sessions Court on Monday.

He also informed the court that the prosecution would request for Azman’s case at the Kangar Sessions Court to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, to be tried together.

Azlan was represented by lawyer Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid.

On April 10, Azlan pleaded not guilty at the Kangar Sessions Court to five counts of submitting false overseas travel claims amounting to more than RM1.18 million between 2013 and 2017.